Introduction: [UPDATED] Ease the Pain of a Child Who Has Cancer With Paper Airplanes

By

UPDATE: Here is a video of Hunter and his planes that shows just how many people care about him and his cause.

Video

Sorry that I was not able to embed this video.


It is a parent's worst nightmare: the life changing words "Your child has cancer."

For the Winship family of Freedom, NY, those terrible dreams have become a reality. Five-year-old Hunter Winship was recently diagnosed with Burkitt's Lymphoma, a rare form of cancer which is characterized by rapidly growing tumors. "We've told him he has cancer and they're going to make his tummy aches go away and that he's going to lose his hair," said Hunter's mother Cheryl. Hunter began chemotherapy to try and reduce the size of his tumor but it was "too much for his little body," and it took a large tole on him physically and mentally said his mother. It was then, after seeing young Hunter suffer so much that mother Cheryl Winship, along with Hunter's aunt decieded to create a distraction for suffering Hunter: Paper airplanes in world record amounts.

The Guinness Book of World Records contains records for the largest and smallest planes, but not the most planes ever collected. For Hunter, setting a new world record would be a huge incentive for pushing through his cancer treatment and a great way to lift his spirits.

This is my entry into the Instructables Toss It Challenge and also a plead for help on behalf of young Hunter Windship.

Step 1: A Simple Way to Support a Good Cause

An easy way to support Hunter and his family during this difficult time is to simply send them paper airplanes.

The Winship family will be collecting paper airplanes until March 17, 2008, so hurry and finish reading the rest of this Instructable.

How to make a simple paper airplane

Materials:
  • Paper
  • Envelope
  • Stamp
  • A minute of your time

Step 2: Folding the Plane I

Start by folding your paper in half on the line shown in the picture.

Crease as shown in picture 2.

Then unfold the paper.

Step 3: Folding the Plane II

Next fold the top two corners inward towards the center line that was folded in the previous step.

Crease the folds.

Your paper should now look like the picture.

Step 4: Folding the Plane III

Now fold the topmost corners of the paper (not the tip though) in to the center line of the plane.

Step 5: Folding the Plane IV

Now re-fold the plane along the very first crease line that you created. This will fold the plane in half.

Step 6: Folding the Plane V

Now to fold the wings of the plane. Fold the side of the plane down to the bottom of it to create a wing. Then partially un-fold the fold you just created to finish making the wing.

Flip the plane over and repeat.

Look at the pictures and I'm sure you will understand it.

Step 7: Fitting the Envelope

Now that your plane is complete, and you are going to send it to Hunter, it is best to trim the plane to fit in the envelope.

Line the tip of the plane up with one end of your envelope and cut off the excess paper that lies beyond the other side of the envelope.

Step 8: Video

Here is the required video of my paper airplane in flight.



Step 9: Final Thoughts and Mailing

So far, the Winship family has collected over 200,000 paper airplanes in an attempt to set a new Guinness World Record, and to ease young Hunters pains while he undergoes his cancer treatment.

Hunter and family will be accepting paper airplanes from anyone, anywhere in the world, until March 17, 2008.

Please see it in your heart to send Hunter a paper airplane, and when you do, planes can be mailed to:

Hunter Winship
The Airplane Cancer Goal
11227 North Hill Road
Freedom, New York
14065
USA

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