GREENVILLE — Twelve-year-old Claire Capelle’s dream one day last year inspired her to find a way to raise money to help women in crisis pregnancies. Claire, a middle school student at St. Joseph’s Catholic School, said she had a dream about babies being killed. She said she wanted to find a way to stop abortion and use her leadership skills.
As a result, Claire created the “Babies World Walk,” to be held March 24 to benefit the local chapter of Birthright International. The organization has offices in Greenville and Clemson and offers pregnancy-related services to women as an alternative to abortion.
The slogan for the walk is, “Without babies the future is a maybe.” It will take place around St. Joseph’s campus beginning at the soccer field located at 100 St. Joseph’s Drive.
“I’m planning on doing this every year,” said Claire, whose family belongs to St. Mary Magdalene Church in Simpsonville. “It’s going to be very fun.”
Though she is still in the planning stages for the event, Claire has developed a pledge sheet so people can get sponsors and participate. All of the proceeds will go to Birthright, an interdenominational effort funded only by private donations.
In addition, Claire is asking anyone who comes to the walk to bring diapers, baby wipes, baby clothes and maternity clothes to donate.
The walk, and the fact that the idea for it came from a 12-year-old girl, is a blessing to Birthright director Debbie Baker. Baker said she and others had discussed holding a walk to raise funds, but it had never been organized — until Claire walked through Birthright’s door and said she wanted to do it.
“I just think she’s an amazing little girl,” Baker said. “… She’s so interested in stopping abortion.”
Claire, one of Mark and Kim Cappelle’s nine children, said that she would eventually like to raise enough money to buy a house so that women considering abortion would decide otherwise and have a place to live with their babies.
Naturally, her mother, Kim, is proud.
“We were in my room one night, and we were talking about ways to stop abortion,” Kim said. “She came up with this idea. She put her mind to it.”
Kim said they are already getting support from the campus ministry at St. Joseph School, the Knights of Columbus, and other people who want to help out as they can.
Claire is still looking for people to help out or donate bottles of water or oranges for the walk.
To participate
Contact the Capelles at (864) 879-1528 or markcapelle@bellsouth.net.