Who We Are

The Origination of Happy Wheels

By Audrey Morris, December 2001

Because she wanted to bring joy into children’s lives, Larissa Allison of Murrells Inlet started a program named “Happy Wheels” at MUSC’s Children’s Hospital in Charleston, SC in the spring of 1999. And on January 27, 2000, the Happy Wheels cart began making its rounds at MUSC. Reminiscing on the early stages of the venture, Larissa said: “When the idea was placed upon my heart, the program quickly sprang to life,”

In an interview, Larissa explained how it all came about: “One day my attention was diverted to a TV interview with a little boy who had leukemia but still wanted to help others through volunteer work. That was the turning point for me. God worked on my heart about it, and I promised that if he would open the door, I would walk through it. He did, and I did.”Stem cell transplant recipient Taylor Wilson and her mother Tammy select a game from the Happy Wheels cart while project coordinator
Larissa Allison looks on.

Cal and Julie Harrellson of Pawleys Island were Directors in the Happy Wheels program. Cal talked freely in a telephone interview about the children’s reactions when toy-time came around. He described scenes that he witnessed at the hospital when the cart made its appearance. “The cart is coming, the cart is coming,” chimed the children, he said. “It brings mixed emotions. It’s very touching to watch a child with no hair making his or her way to the cart in their mother’s arms. It is a bright spot during a bad time of their lives, and it reminds me of the movie “Miracle on 34th Street.” The doctors and nurses move quietly out of the way when they see the cart moving toward the rooms. It is incredible that Larissa and Jim started the project from scratch.”

How Happy Wheels, Columbia came to fruition

In June of 2009, Tracey Rankin, an employee of Palmetto Health, started following the updates of a friend, Jackie Shealy, on Facebook. Jackie is now the Program Director of Happy Wheels at MUSC in Charleston and her enthusiasm for the program was infectious. Questions were asked and Tracey’s interest in the Happy Wheels program began to mount. During a family vacation at Pawley’s Island in August, Tracey joined Jackie for “Happy Wheels Thursday” at MUSC. The rest, they say, is history. Upon returning to Columbia, she approached Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital about the possibility of starting a chapter of Happy Wheels in Columbia. From that moment, everyone was on board. December 7th, 2009 marks the kickoff for Happy Wheels, Columbia!

Larissa’s efforts now continue to blossom and bring joy to the lives of children both at MUSC, Charleston and Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital in Columbia, SC.

Each week at both MUSC and PHCH, volunteers push a cart loaded with an average of 90 colorful new toys and books around the hospital, letting each child pick his or her favorite. A child’s smile, when reaching to pick out a gift, is all the reward the participating volunteers seek. The cart, loaded with toys and books, offers a free gift to all the children whose maladies include cancer, heart and lung diseases and numerous other problems.

Each gift is valued from $8-$16. So, to keep the cart filled and rolling takes around $48,000 per year to fund. Each child receives one new book or toy each week for as long as they stay in the hospital. These funds are donated from individuals and small businesses.

The children wear bright smiles and happy faces as the cart appears and some of them jump off the bed and run to the cart in a burst of enthusiasm to pick their Happy Wheels gift.