The spirit of charity runs deep in the Dam Laute family. Many a Beijing expat will already be familiar with Dr. Jaclyn Dam Laute’s active volunteerism – whether it be her work on the CFFC board, or her own dental practice where she gives back by providing free dental services to children in need. Now, Dr. Dam Laute’s 15-year-old daughter Angelina Anh Laute joins the fold with her first community fundraising event – Peachy Charity Run & Brunch, happening this Sun, Feb 12.
The event may come as no surprise to those familiar with the Dam Laute family, since Angelina’s brother also organized a Peachy run three years back. “I was in middle school at the time,” shares Angelina, “and I saw him doing all this which seemed really cool and also very foreign to me. It was very inspiring but I didn’t think I would do it myself.”
That all changed in the tenth grade when Angelina was tasked with her Personal Project – a Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) initiative where students have a year to focus on one project to dedicate their time to. Angelina explains: “At first I felt very lost and didn’t know what to do. But my mother told me about how giving back is such a good feeling that gives you a sense of accomplishment and makes a life worth living. Those words really hit me. So I decided this was my chance. But this time I wanted it to be a different charity – something I could really connect with on a personal level.”
For Angelina, that is 5-year-old Ping.
“I first met Ping about a year ago at the Dew Drops Children’s Home,” she says. “It was quite a shock because he has a rare genetic skin disease (epidermolysis bullosa or EB) that leaves him with blisters all over his body – even inside his throat! But even then, he is still such a lively and energetic boy.” Angelina also reveals why Ping’s condition really spoke to her. “My brother also suffered from skin issues when he was younger, but those were just one percent of what Ping goes through.”
Ping’s daily care requires that ointment to be rubbed gently all over his body, and for him to be bandaged from head to toe “like a mummy,” describes Angelina. It adds up to about RMB 7,000 every month.
“Our goal is to raise RMB 10,000 through ticket sales for the Peachy Charity Run & Brunch. You can walk or run along a lovely trail near WAB, then we’ll finish at Hulu with free-flow pancakes and drinks! Even if you aren’t able to make it to the event, you can still make a donation through the QR code.“
When asked about whether this event has spurred her towards future studies and a career in the charity sector, Angelina replied, “I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up, but I know that no matter what I do, I want to help people.”
Images: Courtesy of Angelina Anh Laute
