MultiCare
For kids in oncology clinic, tokens are a carrot for every stick
This is 6-year-old Cole Vukich. He earned this token today at the hematology/oncology clinic at the Mary Bridge Health Center.
To earn a token, "I have to get a poke," Cole explained.
Once children earn four tokens, they can pick a toy from a treasure box, or chose a gift card, which are supplied by donors. Cole saves his tokens in a small fabric bag, which was hand sewn and also donated to Mary Bridge.
On Sunday, Cole will be the special honoree of the 22nd Annual Scott Firefighter Stairclimb in the Columbia Center tower in Seattle, to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Cole's dad Steve, a West Pierce Fire & Rescue firefighter, will join 1,500 other firefighters to climb 69 flights of stairs.
Before last year's stairclimb, Cole gave his dad one of his hard-earned tokens, for good luck.
Asked whether he prefers the tokens or the pokes, Cole said, "I like both."
"Because once I get my four tokens, I get to go to Target to get whatever I want," he said. "And the poke usually doesn't hurt that much."
