Power Behind a Cause

Brenda Batschelet is being honored as a Champion of Change for her Kiwanis International service. 

I’m a proud member of Aktion Club, which is a program of Kiwanis International, and I’m also proud to receive the Champions of Change award. Aktion Club gives those of us with disabilities some ways to serve others and be leaders. For me, it was a great opportunity to put the power of my local club behind a great cause called Relay for Life.

We were talking about community service projects during a meeting, and I asked about the club’s interest in the event, which helps the American Cancer Society raise funds and lets people remember loved ones they have lost. Everyone thought it was a good idea, so we formed a team. I was honored to become our team’s captain. It was a great experience. It helped me develop leadership skills, which is a big part of what Aktion Club is all about.

I attended all the meetings for the event in our community, and I kept everyone in my club informed about what was happening. I was also responsible for collecting the money raised by other team members, and of course, I did some fundraising with our Aktion Club. This included a bake sale and popcorn sales, and I handled a lot of the details for these fundraisers. I was also responsible for giving the money we raised from selling popcorn during the event to the Relay Bank.

It was great to see how my suggestion about getting active in Relay for Life and my leadership of the team has helped boost up respect for Aktion Club in our community.

It’s also been nice to hear from others that they have seen the positive changes in my own life. People notice I’m less shy—being a leader has helped me speak in front of people with a lot more confidence. My parents notice too. They say now that when I’m involved in Aktion Club service, I don’t know what “no” means. I know they’re grateful like I am for the opportunities the program has given me. And we’re all grateful for the recognition as a Champion of Change.

Brenda Batschelet is a member of Aktion Club, a Kiwanis service organization for adults with disabilities, and was a key part of the Relay for Life Committee in Jefferson, Iowa