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Tampa Krewe Brings Cheerful Treasure For Sick Kids

Tribune photo by JAY NOLAN

Morgan Cox gets a feather boa from krewe member Lisa McCorkle at Tampa General Hospital on Aug. 25.

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By LOIS KINDLE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 29, 2008

TAMPA - Some of the children could barely smile or lift their small limbs to accept their gifts.

But the brightly dressed "wenches" of Ye Royal Krewe of Charlotte de Berry understood. Their job was to brighten the day of these sick children.

Seven members of the Apollo Beach-based, nonprofit women's organization came to Tampa General Hospital's Children's Medical Center recently to hand out beads and assorted toys as part of the krewe's monthly mission of charity.

"Most of us are mothers," said First Mate Leann Leslie. "So it brings us great joy to see how happy these children are. Doing this kind of project is always worthwhile."

Visiting from England, Ian Willace sat beside his 4-year-old daughter, Rhylee Brown, who suffers from cerebral palsy.

Rhylee was at the hospital for spinal surgery.

"It's very nice," he said of the visit. "The girls are lovely and very good with the kids."

Older children were not left out during the visit.

Waiting for the results of her kidney biopsy, Brianna Borello, 16, fingered multiple strands of beads around her neck.

"I think what they're doing is so nice," she said. "I know what it's like to be here, so it's especially nice for the little ones."

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