IONIA COUNTY, Mich. -- Thousands ventured out for the last weekend of the Ionia Free Fair on Thursday. Some were there for the food, others for the rides, but one West Michigan twelve-year-old was there to sell her goats.
Aurora Beckhold didn't sell her goats to raise money for summer camp or for new clothing. She raised the funds for something much larger than herself.
Aurora started raising her goats in April. "I just tried something new, because I thought it would be really fun," she said.
On Thursday, it was time to say goodbye.
One of her goats, Chocolate Chip, was sold for $6 a pound. At 78 pounds, Aurora earned nearly $500, which is all going to the Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project.
"It's the right thing to do, and why wouldn't you?" Aurora said. "People need help out there and you should help them."
The Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project is based in Uganda and helps children who have been orphaned by HIV-AIDS. The charity provides free education, a nutrition program, and supports grandmothers who are raising nearly 43,000 orphaned children
With the sale of her goat, Aurora is now helping those children.
"We were blown away," said Daniele Reisbig of the Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project. "We have had a lot of youth throughout the country who like to give, but it was really cool to see someone come up with a completely unique idea."
"I'm excited," said Aurora. "I'm helping this charity, and I'm excited to do it again."
"If they need help, you should help them, because how would you like it if you ended up like them one day?" said Aurora.
She would like to thank her buyers, Greenstone Farm Credit, Dr. Gerald and Joyce Segorlind, and Larry and Jenny Scherurer.
If you would like to donate to the Nyaka AIDS Orphan Project, click here.
