[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 44 (Tuesday, April 21, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E608]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO MINDY ELVEY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BUD SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 21, 1998

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring our colleagues' 
attention to a Pennsylvanian who has refused to let a formidable 
obstacle stand in her way of making people's lives a little better. 
This outstanding citizen, Mr. Speaker, is Mindy Elvey of Altoona, 
Pennsylvania.
  Mindy is a teenager growing up in a typical American city, but it is 
her outstanding actions, Mr. Speaker, which are nothing short of 
extraordinary. She is a 15-year-old who has battled leukemia and still 
receives monthly chemotherapy to fight this terrible and life 
threatening disease. However, Mindy has not allowed her illness to stop 
her from caring about those around her.
  As a patient in a Pittsburgh Ronald McDonald House, Mindy was not 
permitted to visit the common television viewing room during a critical 
stage in her fight against leukemia because she couldn't risk infection 
while being exposed to others. While recuperating at her home in 
Altoona, Mindy made crafts and sold them to family and friends in order 
to purchase a new television set for the facility. Her concern for 
others who were sick and staying at the facility didn't stop there, and 
Mindy began a campaign to persuade local groups and businesses to 
donate more television sets to the Pittsburgh Ronald McDonald House. 
Her efforts have allowed 10 of the 15 bedrooms at the facility to have 
brand new television sets in them. Mindy Elvey had stated, ``I just 
wanted to do something nice.''
  For her selfless determination Mindy Elvey is being honored tomorrow, 
along with other outstanding citizens from around the country, at the 
Seventh Annual ``Make A Difference Day,'' hosted by USA Weekend 
Magazine and the Points of Light Foundation.
  At this time, Mr. Speaker, I ask our colleagues' in the House of 
Representatives to join with me in congratulating Ms. Elvey for being 
chosen as a national honoree and for a job well done. Mindy has shown 
that no matter what difficult odds we may face, we can still make our 
world a better place.

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