Dear Editor:

My family and I have set about this Christmas season to make a few others' outlook on life a little brighter and more joyful.

We have a large Christmas light show set up at my father's house at 160 Shady Lane in Gaffney. This display consists of more than 35,000 lights dancing in sync to music all controlled by a computer. Some may remember our display from last year in Blacksburg.

Our dilemma comes when we try to help others from our generosity. You see, last year, with the help of the community, we raised more than $1,200 for the Red Cross. This money went to buy Christmas dinner for between 15 and 20 families. We also were able to provide gifts for between 8 and 10 children who otherwise might not have gotten any gifts.

This year, we set out to help another organization. As a cancer survivor myself, cancer patients always have a special place in my heart, so this year we have decided to help children who are battling cancer. We want to surprise both the children and the parents on Christmas day with gifts for the kids and a little something for the parents.

Our problem is somewhat twofold.

First, we have found it somewhat hard to get exposure for the event. Last year with the Red Cross as the beneficiary, they were able to get a little publicity. This year we have tried to get several reporters from multiple news agencies to do ANYTHING to assist us in raising awareness so we can help raise the funds for these children. We were left with resorting to word of mouth and small signs along the road to point the way to the show.

The second problem is the reason for my letter. Mr. Editor, someone has thought it necessary to pull up our signs pointing the way to the location. Yes it is in a residential location, but the immediate surrounding neighbors have given their blessings and even approve of what we are doing. As a matter of fact, one gentleman was inspirational in getting donations for our equipment from some of his friends at a local restaurant.

This isn't a one-time occurrence. The signs are being removed four and five times a day. I finally feel it necessary to publicly point this vandal out and ask that anyone who comes to our fund raiser at 160 SHADY LANE to bear with us if one or more of the signs are temporarily missing.

Sir or ma'am, I forgive you for tearing down my signs. You see it's only a $4 piece of plastic. You may think you have outwitted me, but God knows you did it and you know you did it. You haven't hurt me. I will stop and reset the signs 20 times a day if I need to. The ones you are hurting are the little children at the hospital who are taking chemo, who are sick as I was. I know this feeling. I hurt for those kids. I'm not mad at you. I would just pray you open your eyes to the reality of what your doing and realize it's not me you are hurting; it's those little children who will miss out on the possible donations because of your cowardly act. Ninety percent of the people coming to see the show have been told about it and they already know where it is. So your childish act of pulling up the arrow signs five times a day doesn't hurt them.

Thank you for allowing us to mention our fund raiser and I pray this vandal will come to know that Christmas doesn't need another Scrooge. Anthony Childers Marcus Childers Sarah Childers Gaffney, S.C.