Colorful fun

Ida Adakendll, a patient at the Shands Hospital for Children at UF, creates a painting by using syringes to squirt paint onto a canvas with volunteers from Caleb’s Pitch. Photo by Maria Belen Farias

Pediatric patients at the Shands Hospital for Children at the University of Florida gave a shot of color and a dose of fun to the hospital, creating masterpieces by using syringes to squirt paint onto canvas Aug. 22. Patients and their families took the artwork home as keepsakes.

Nick Zebroski, a Caleb’s Pitch volunteer, helps Loundreikwa Hunter shoot a syringe filled with paint onto her canvas. Photo by Maria Belen Farias

The event, sponsored by Caleb’s Pitch, a local nonprofit organization, was part of a biweekly activity series, which aims to enhance quality of life and create memorable experiences for children with illnesses. The organization was founded in memory of 8-year-old Caleb Jacobbe, who got to throw the first pitch at a Boston Red Sox game while battling cancer and, three days before passing away, created 31 paintings for his family and friends.