She Wants To Make ’Em Laugh Till It Doesn’t
Hurt
By Amy Thompson - The Daily World
If someone is sick, making them smile or
laugh makes all the difference in the world.
If that means wearing a clown costume,
making funny voices, and acting silly,
Marissa Schamber is up for the job.
Schamber, 16, from Aberdeen, is in fact
planning to do just that this summer.
From Sept. 10 to Sept. 16, in what would be
her first trip outside the United States,
Schamber is heading to Costa Rica to
volunteer at a children’s hospital and two
clinics for the “Clowning and Caring”
educational tour.
The trip’s leader is the enthusiastic and
famous Dr. Hunter “Patch” Adams. A 1998 film
“Patch Adams” with Robin Williams playing
the role of Adams, is based on Adams’ book
about his life, called “Gesundheit.”
Adams, 64, is a medical doctor who provides
free medical care while he simultaneously
uses humor to bring happiness to each
patient.
“He’s my role model for everything I want to
do when I get older,” Schamber said.
Schamber, who will be a junior at Aberdeen
High School and hopes to one day become a
pediatric anesthesiologist, was inspired by
his life and began researching his work.
About a month ago, while reading through
more information on Adams, she found a
travel plan for a trip to Costa Rica with
the not-for-profit Gesundheit! Institute and
the School for Designing a Society.
A group of 30 will travel to Costa Rica for
the “Clowning and Caring” week-long session.
On the tour, the group will “clown around”
for the patients and attend daily workshops.
“Everybody is going to be dressed up as
clowns,” Schamber said. “It’s going to be
goofy and fun.”
Marissa Schamber, daughter of Cheryl and
Brad Schamber, is also involved in the local
community as well. She participates yearly
in the Food Ball food drive and fundraiser
competition that takes place between local
schools, and she is also active in other
service opportunities that arise.
She knows that this is a special and unique
way that she can help to change people’s
lives, so she is eager to prepare for the
tour.
“It’s a really big opportunity,” Schamber
said. “It’s going to be a life changing
experience.”
Schamber has officially been accepted to go
on the tour and now is in need of a $500
deposit by July 1, with a total of $1,250
for the trip due by July 15.
For those interested in donating towards her
trip, Marissa Schamber can be reached at
360-589-4265 or e-mailed at
maschamber@asd5.gaggle.net or
swimmingruby@hotmail.com. An
account has been created for donations,
which can be made at any Timberland Bank,
under Marissa Schamber Patch Adams Trip. |
