Katherine Alderfer, 7, of Winona Lake, is among 5 child artists who designed Christmas cards for Riley Children’s Hospital this year. (Photo provided)

This holiday season give your friends, family and clients more than season’s greetings – give them cards designed by patients at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health. Proceeds benefit Riley Children’s Foundation’s year-end giving campaign called The Gift of Hope Happens Here.

Making the cards even more meaningful, is that one of them was designed by a Winona Lake girl.

Katherine Alderfer is 7 years old. In May 2010, Katherine Alderfer was diagnosed with juvenile dermatomyositis – just days after her 4th birthday. Since her diagnosis, Katherine has visited Riley Hospital almost every week. She spends her time – while receiving infusions – working on art. Art therapy has become the highlight of her Riley visits and helps her deal with the challenges of her disease.

Katherine is a first-grader at Sacred Heart School in Warsaw. She enjoys riding her bike, reading, swimming and hanging out with her twin sister, Caroline.

“We feel so blessed to have such a wonderful team of doctors and nurses at Riley,” Katherine’s mother Kristine said. “Every time we come to Riley, we know that we are in the best place for Katherine and we trust in the care that she receives.”

The Riley Holiday Card program, which has been ongoing at Riley Hospital for approximately 20 years, allows patients to apply their creative skills to design cards for the season of giving.

Cards are available in packs of 10 for $8 and are sold exclusively at RileyHolidayCards.com and the Riley Hospital gift shops. Companies may order personalized Riley Holiday Cards imprinted with a special message and company logo.

Other card designers are Isaiah Burnett, 15, of Crothersville (Snowman design); Caitlyn Archambeault, 16, Terre Haute (Penguin design); Reagan Hopf, 5, Jasper (Snowman design); and Lowees Hadad, 12, Noblesville (Christmas Tree design).

Riley Children’s Foundation is also accepting donations for The Gift of Hope Happens Here year-end giving campaign at www.RileyKids.org.

Proceeds support Riley Hospital to sustain and expand groundbreaking, life-saving treatment and research, facilities and accessibility.