ROCHELLE — The HUB Project’s K-Kids Club wrapped up their final meeting of the year in a fun way while also learning a little about the importance of perseverance from special guest speaker Kayla Born.

The students also had a little something for Born as part of a project they have been doing to benefit families staying at the Ronald McDonald House, which is where Born’s own family stayed while she was in a neighboring hospital.

“We presented Kayla with 50 pounds of pops tabs that were collected by the students, staff, and families of Lincoln, Central, and May Schools. It added up to over 63,000 tabs,” Rubeck said.

About a year ago, Born was taken to Lurie’s Children’s Hospital with a blood clot in her upper arm. While enduring several surgeries and procedures to correct the problem and restore blood flow, Born’s family stayed at RMH. Subsequently, due to her medical situation she can no longer play softball although she is manages and keeps score.

Born shared her message of persevering through adversity.

Now as a Sycamore High School senior, Born said that because of how well she and her family were treated at Lurie’s and at the Ronald McDonald House, she plans to study medicine or nursing in college. She will take the tabs to be recycled for money to help other families to stay at RMH.

Elisa Rubeck, K-Kids advisor, said the students made and decorated a collection container for the tabs at each of the schools and throughout the year students have been bringing in bags of tabs. Dennis Swinton and the Kiwanis Golden K Club provided the pizza, juice, and homemade cookies.

Each of the club members received a handbook, membership card, and a certificate of participation.

“The K-Kids were thrilled and very appreciative,” Rubeck said. “We all had such a great time! Our hope is that the fifth grade K-Kids will go on to join the Builder’s club at RMS and that this year’s third and fourth graders will join K-Kids next year.”