Local student donates 500 ‘You Matter’ bracelets to Dayton Children’s Hospital

751
Pierce (R) with hospital staff and mother Suerdieck (L).

DAYTON— Like his mother, local student Cooper Pierce, 10, recently donated hundreds of “You Matter” bracelets and cards to patients at Dayton Children’s Hospital.

The bracelets are Pierce’s mother, Heather Suerdieck’s recent labor of love. Suerdieck, owner of Inside Out Coaching, started distributing “You Matter” bracelets about a year ago at Darke County Schools.

Pierce said his journey with the project was a wild ride.

“I know sometimes people just say I don’t matter anymore so that’s why I think these bracelets are so important to people because you don’t just want to give up, you want to feel that you matter,” he said. “The minute that you put the bracelets on you are just impacted so much that you feel like a whole new person.”

Pierce sorts bracelets.

The bracelets serve as a reminder to locals that they too have a voice, and that they matter.

The bracelets are available for purchase at four different locations in Darke County. Four Twenty Three in Greenville, Ashes to Beauty in Ansonia, Blue Willow Boutique in Versailles and 4One Apparel in Arcanum. From each You Matter bracelet purchase, $1 goes back to buying the You Matter bracelets for local students.

“A You Matter bracelet is that reminder that you can be more at choice,” Suerdieck said. “It’s just like resetting your thoughts to better serve you.”

In addition to a bracelet that reads “You Matter,” patients received a card that reads, “You Matter. Two of the most powerful words on the planet, yet we struggle to say them to ourselves each and every day. Your journey matters. Your voice matters. Your feelings matter. Your thoughts matter. Your future matters. And most of all, you matter.”

Suerdieck has recently sold, donated or gifted around 8,000 bracelets as of last fall when she traveled to National Trail Schools and presented their Hope Squad with over 600 bracelets for grades fifth to 12th.

“People always say if you believe you matter then it will change your life,” Pierce said.

Pierce met his goal, and was able to donate 500 bracelets to the hospital.