Car Wash Benefit Held For Girl Needing Lung Transplant

Organ transplants pose a large financial burden on recipients and their families and there's no end of ways to help them. This car wash shows how one community chipped in to help and is a fine example of the initiatives and fund raising ideas that we can come up with.

Boynton Beach HS Students Help Raise Money

From WPBF-TV

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - Dozens of people took part in a charity car wash in Boynton Beach on Saturday to help a local high school student who is in need of a transplant.

Classmates, teachers and complete strangers grabbed a bucket and rag to help Kaiya Castillo.

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"Well, we heard about Kaiya through the school nurse," said Brandi Girtman, of Boynton Beach Community High School. "I mentioned it to the kids, and the kids just wanted to help."


Girtman said Castillo needs a double lung transplant to survive, and that could cost more than $500,000.

The 14-year-old couldn't be at the fundraiser because she's back in a hospital, but she had plenty of love from fellow students.

"We really love you," student Jessica White said. "Our whole school is rooting for you. Just get well and come back to school please."

The Boynton Beach High School student was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis -- a chronic lung disease -- when she was 5 months old. She has had to endure countless hospital stays and medical procedures.

Students from Boynton Beach Community High School sponsored a car wash benefit to try to offset transplant-related expenses.

"Good luck, Kaiya," a volunteer said. "I hope we raise enough money so you can get well soon."

Her story of survival has touched a lot of people, especially Crystal Haneef and her 8-year-old daughter, Zakeria.

"When we found out about her story, my daughter wanted to help," Haneef said. "She asked me if something could happen to her, and I told her something could if she didn't get what she needed. She was like, 'I don't want anything to happen to her. What can we do to help?'"

They hope that by helping they will set an example for others and let a complete stranger know people care.

The Boynton Beach Community High School student council will also host a student versus teacher dodgeball tournament March 20 in the gym from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for $5 a person.

For more information, contact the school at 561-752-1526.