For years, a Chicago teenager has been selling his art to help children fighting cancer.
The young artist Arsh Pal, 14, is using his passion for the arts to make a difference in the lives of children fighting for their lives. For years, he has been selling his artwork to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
Using Art To Help Kids With Cancer
The boy's fantastic journey started when he received acrylic painting supplies as a gift for his eighth birthday. When he got them, he immediately fell in love with the medium and drew inspiration from nature and the world around him to create beautiful artwork.
Pal's talent for the arts was further nurtured by the vibrant downtown murals he saw near his former home in Dubuque, Iowa, before his family moved to Chicago. According to India Currents, the teenage boy's journey started one day when he was accompanying his mother, an occupational therapist, to work at a nursing home.
The young boy was responsible for leading residents in a painting tutorial. They noticed that the simple process of drawing art was enjoyable for them. He realized that despite their age, the people at the nursing home still shared his desire for connection and food.
That particular experience left an impressionable mark on Pal, and it inspired him to use his art to help other people. Pal saw that the residents at the nursing home where his mother worked sometimes looked hurt and lonely.
Donating All of the Proceeds
Pal has been making art and selling his canvas paintings so that he can donate all of the proceeds to St. Jude. He wants to help kids fighting cancer. KETV reported that his original goal was to raise $1,000 for St. Jude Research Hospital.
The young boy also recalled how people started to doubt him in the beginning and how, due to his age, he would be able to do it. However, when he actually raised enough money for his first goal, everybody who doubted him was surprised.
Due to his efforts, Pal was also awarded The Diana Award a couple of years ago in a live-streamed ceremony that honored him and 180 recipients worldwide. The UK-based award is typically given to individuals aged between nine and 25 who are "selflessly creating and sustaining positive social change," according to the Des Moines Register.
