Boy’s button fund Rochan Pinho's heart is in the right place.
heads to NYC
The 10-year-old gives more than
$5,000 to help in relief effortsBy Treena Shapiro
tshapiro@starbulletin.comThe 10-year-old, who has terminal brain and spinal cancer, has spent the past several weeks designing, printing and pressing hundreds of patriotic buttons to raise money for the Sept. 11 relief fund.
Yesterday, he delivered $5,006 in cashier's and personal checks to New York state trooper David Bast, who was returning home after a vacation.
"When I saw those (people) on TV, I thought there was something I could do to help," Pinho said.
Bast was among the rescue workers at "Ground Zero," where the World Trade Center towers once stood. He contacted Pinho after hearing about the boy's activities.
"I really appreciate everything you've done," Bast told Pinho yesterday. He also thanked the people of Hawaii who had donated to victim relief funds.
Along with the checks, Pinho also gave Bast 400 specially designed buttons to distribute to the people of New York. It took him about two weeks to make them, he said.
"I'll make sure they get to New York City and all the appropriate people," Bast said. "He made some special buttons for Mayor (Rudolph) Giuliani and Gov. (George) Pataki, and I'll make sure it gets to the appropriate places ... the appropriate rescuees and rescuers."
Pinho sold most of his buttons in front of the Longs Drug Store in Pearl City. He also made appearances at Liberty House Ala Moana, Sam's Club and Windward Mall. He had hoped to raise $10,000, but was disappointed last week when an investigation by Child Protective Services put an end to his fund-raising.
But the fifth-grader refuses to give up. "I'll start all over again," he said.
He would also like to visit New York. "I wanted to say hi to all the people," he said. "I wanted to see all the state people helping with the rescue."
