Ha Ella

Ella Ha shows the CHEO cape, provincial certificate and this year's gift cards she designed and drew at her home.

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23 November 2016

LONG SAULT - Want to send holiday wishes the old fashioned way while helping kids get better at CHEO?

A 12-year-old Long Sault girl has been drawing Christmas greeting cards that support the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario the last four years.

"I starting doing it because one day (when she was nine) I was thinking that while I have a good day, I know some kids are having a bad day at the hospital," said Ella Ha, during an interview in the living room of her family's home on Saunders Drive.

"So when I came home (from Our Lady of Good Counsel elementary school), I asked (my parents) if I could fundraise for CHEO."

Relying on basic art instruction from school and her own budding ability, she gathered her colouring pencils, crayons and even paint brushes, and got to work.

"I do six different designs, each one for different cards," Ella said: Word spread through her school, church, family and friends, and local events, allowing her to sell
290 cards in 2013 and give a $330 donation.

Since then, her cards have raised almost $1,900 more.

She has 600 cards printed for this year. Printing costs 70 cents per card, so she hopes to donate $780.

Each card costs $2 so it's easy competitive with the least expensive on the market .

Her images reflect traditional Christmas themes, such as animals, nature, decorations and even poetry.

This year, she has one card called "The Gift of Joy": "Joy is feeling, a feeling of love, Joy came from heaven, heaven above, is happiness and will fill you smiles, Joy is special an stretch out for miles, So if you see someone is sad give them some joy, because joy is better than an old toy."

The other four Christmas are a door with a wreath, a black and white with mittens, a snowy setting with a bright red cardinal and a comical image of a brown puppy standing in a present box with the top off and the messagae "No Peeking ... "

Ella also has a birthday card with balloons floating in the wind together by a bow.

"I really like dogs and animals - people like that on cards."

With a smile she denied the puppy card was a subliminal message to her parents, Carley and Bihn, who chuckled in response.

Carley added that for the cardinal, Ella used watercolours. Ella said cardinals are occasional visitors to the backyard bird feeder.

Carley admits that she is not artistically inclined while her husband has a little more talent.

But Ella appears to have inherited the trait from her grand-mother and some aunts.
"They say they look really good Carley said.

Since starting her card creation, Ella did attend a summer arts program at the Benson Centre.

Others are impressed with Ella's caring attitude.

At that she pulls out from a container of personal possessions, a letter of congratulations from local MPP Jim McDonell, recognizing her selection by Cogeco TV for the Youth Achievement Caring is Cool award for grades 4-6 students.

Ella's cards can be purchased at Our Lady of Good Counsel's Christmas concert, at the chiropractic offices of Dr. Natalie Samson, 240 Augustus St., and Dr. Rodney Pitblado, 1916 Pitt St., and through Carley Ha's Facebook page.