March 2008 - Residents of “Connections” , Heritage Park Rehab & Skilled Nursing’s in-patient dementia day care program, recently took the opportunity to design paper airplanes for Hunter Winship, a five-year-old from the town of Freedom in Cattaraugus County.  Hunter was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Burkitt’s Lymphoma.  His mother, Cheryl, and an aunt decided to come up with a unique way to keep Hunter’s mind off his medical treatments.  They are attempting to break a Guinness Book of World Records record for the number of paper airplanes received.

Trecia Meachum, Connections Facilitator, learned of the paper airplane project through a local television station.  She immediately thought it would be a productive activity for the “Connections” participants to embark on a worthwhile and special project.  Each resident had the opportunity to make a unique paper airplane to deliver to Hunter.

“Connections” is a multi-faceted, person-centered dementia care program which includes a designated inpatient Alzheimer's/Dementia Day Care Center located on the second floor of Heritage Park (Jamestown).  This day care center is a prototype for nursing homes across the country for the treatment and care of Alzheimer’s and dementia residents within the skilled nursing setting.

Those interested in sending paper airplanes directly to Hunter, please mail them to: Hunter Winship (The Airplane Cancer Goal), 11227 North Hill Road, Freedom, NY 14065.