FORNEY, Texas – The 4th Annual Emily's Monkeys sock monkey making event raised over $14,000 for Texas Scottish Rite Hospital and prepared over 165 sock monkeys for delivery to surgery-bound patients.
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“These sock monkeys will mean so much to the children before they go into surgery,” said Josh Hough who is 8-year-old Emily Hough's dad. Emily, a 3rd grade student at Crosby Elementary, was diagnosed and treated at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for juvenile dermatomyositis – a disease which affects only 3 out of a million children each year.
Just four years ago, the Houghs began the annual event with 15 close family members. More than 100 volunteers from all over the community and the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex participated in Saturday's event. 65 sock monkeys were completed and more than 100 are near completion which will be completed over the next couple of months.
One special guest, 4-year-old Ayla Chaplin, was in attendance with her family. Ayla, who lives in Forney with her family and twin sister, was also diagnosed with juvenile dermatomyositis in December 2013.
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Chaplin is also receiving treatment at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital. “The one thing we continue to hear is how Texas Scottish Rite Hospital has helped someone in their family or someone they know,” said Hough. “Raising $14,308 for Texas Scottish Rite Hospital exceeded our expectations.”
“It is just amazing that our city helped our fundraiser the way it did,” said Hough. “Forney continues to show why we are a great community.”
As for Emily and Ayla, they were inseparable. Emily handmade Ayla's first Emily's Monkey, from hand-cutting the socks, sewing – with a little help –, stuffing the doll, and hand-stitching the arms.
Just four years ago, the Houghs began the annual event with 15 close family members. More than 100 volunteers from all over the community and the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex participated in Saturday's event. 65 sock monkeys were completed and more than 100 are near completion which will be completed over the next couple of months.
One special guest, 4-year-old Ayla Chaplin, was in attendance with her family. Ayla, who lives in Forney with her family and twin sister, was also diagnosed with juvenile dermatomyositis in December 2013.
RELATED: Two of a kind: Special bond formed over rare disease
Chaplin is also receiving treatment at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital. “The one thing we continue to hear is how Texas Scottish Rite Hospital has helped someone in their family or someone they know,” said Hough. “Raising $14,308 for Texas Scottish Rite Hospital exceeded our expectations.”
“It is just amazing that our city helped our fundraiser the way it did,” said Hough. “Forney continues to show why we are a great community.”
As for Emily and Ayla, they were inseparable. Emily handmade Ayla's first Emily's Monkey, from hand-cutting the socks, sewing – with a little help –, stuffing the doll, and hand-stitching the arms.