Fourteen-year-old Bailey Walter was recently selected from among 20,000 entrants to receive the August Nickelodeon Halo Effect Award. This award honors teens from around the country for their charitable work.
Bailey received the award for the “Let Them Dance” campaign, which she started in honor of her best friend, Kale Shiesley, who has SMA. The name was inspired by Bailey’s hope to dance with Kale at one of their school dances.
Bailey and Kale are an active part of the Cure SMA Western New York Chapter. Along with the other participants, they recently raised almost $60,000 through the Western New York Chapter Walk-n-Roll. Bailey also arranged to have Niagara Falls lit in purple in recognition of SMA Awareness Month.
Earlier this summer, Bailey and Kale appeared at a press conference held by Rep. Chris Collins, to discuss 21st Century Cures. Rep. Collins is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Bailey and Kale were featured by The Buffalo News, The Niagara Gazette, and WKBW-TV in Buffalo. Bailey also filmed a commercial for Nickelodeon about SMA, and will donate her $5,000 prize to help find a cure for SMA.
Thank you to Bailey and Kale for all their hard work and dedication!