Teaching staff, volunteers and peers at Lakeside Hospice how to make Para Cord bracelets, twelve-year-old Andrew Thomaston and his brother, Will, nine, used the opportunity to work with an organization that hold a special place in their hearts.

“We decided to do this because they helped my Uncle Charlie who was diagnosed with cancer,” Andrew said.

The Thomastons’ mother purchased all the materials for the project.

Andrew said he got inspiration to do the project after a friend gave him a Para Cord bracelet.

“I got on Youtube and looked it up how to make them,” Andrew said.  “I originally started making them with shoe strings.”

Participants selected colors and had the opportunity to braid the strings together after Andrew and Will attached snaps on the strings to hold the bracelets together.

“I feel like I am back in sixth grade making friendship bracelets again,” Volunteer Coordinator Tracy Whitten said.

Andrew and Will plan to host another class at Lakeside Hospice before they start school in August.  They will teach participants how to make Para Cord bracelets with multiple colors.

“Using two colors involves sewing, and that takes more time,” Andrew said.

For more information about the upcoming class, contact Teresa Carden at Lakeside Hospice, 205-884-1111.