Hempfield Eagle Scout creates cancer memorial garden

When Ben Graham started his Eagle Scout project in Hempfield Park, he didn’t know how soon the cause would hit home.

But about halfway through planning a cancer memorial garden that will become a healing spot for cancer survivors and their families, as well as an area to remember those who lost their battle, his mom, Beth Graham, 49, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“She actually was diagnosed halfway through the project, so it ended up being appropriate, but I had no idea,” Ben Graham, 17, said. “I believe they caught it very early. She didn’t have to do chemotherapy because it wasn’t severe enough. Her recovery was about a year ago. She did everything she could to change her lifestyle. She came out of it pretty strong.”

Now, Ben Graham’s project is slated to finish up today, nestled near Pavilion A. The garden features 14 memorial stones with more than 60 names carved into them, a chain-link fence where memorial locks can be hung and flowers picked to represent the colors associated with different cancers.

“I knew I really wanted to do something permanent and something that had an impact and use for the community and I knew cancer is such a big issue in the area,” the upcoming Hempfield Area High School senior said.

According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide, with more than 14 million new cases in 2012 and about 8.2 million cancer-related deaths worldwide. The cancer research agency also said the number of new cancer cases per year is expected to increase to 23.6 million by 2030.

The garden

Starting to plan the project about three years ago, Graham, part of Troop 465, considered ideas like a prayer garden before landing on the memorial garden.

Most of the three years was spent selling the limestone pavers to raise money to complete the project, he said. Stenciled Stones in Jeannette engraved the stones, and work officially started at the beginning of summer, Ben Graham said.

“I got less of a response than I thought I would, so it took me a while to rake up enough money to get construction going,” he said.

Now, thanks to the help of almost 20 scouts — and 250 to 300 total man hours later — the garden is almost complete.

Aaron Siko, director of Hempfield’s Parks and Recreation department, said any Eagle Scout project is always a welcomed addition to the township, adding this project is tucked away to give families privacy.

“He did a really great job on that in getting all the materials and doing it all himself,” Siko said.

Graham’s dad, Jim Graham, 55, said the spot will give his family an area to go pray for their own family members afflicted by cancer, but also for people who are battling cancer within his church. He added he has made a vow to purchase and hang a lock each time a person battling cancer is mentioned during a church service.

“I’m incredibly proud of him,” Jim Graham said of his son. “Not only that he made it to this point in scouting but also the heartfeltness and the foresight he had in selecting a project like this. He wanted something that would do good for the community, help those that are going through a tough time, and also something that will stand the test of time.”