Keesler volunteers honored by City of Biloxi Published April 30, 2009 By Susan Griggs 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, BILOXI, MISS. -- You're never too young to make a difference. The story of a Keesler child who wanted to help a sick friend brought tears to the eyes of many in the audience at the City of Biloxi's annual Volunteer Recognition Awards, April 22. Six-year-old Carter Wells, son of Kari and Tech. Sgt. Andrew Wells, a Keesler firefighter, won a special award at the ceremony. The first-grader at Beauvoir Elementary School was spurred into action when a friend from gymnastics class, 7-year-old Lexi Moore, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Lexi, a second-grader at North Woolmarket Elementary School, is the daughter of Tara and Patrick Moore. "Carter was upset when he found out that Lexi had cancer and was too sick to go to tumbling classes anymore," Sergeant Wells said. Carter told his teacher, Leslie Hunt, and his physical education coach, Michael Capers, that he wanted to raise $500 to help his sick friend. Beauvoir has its own little TV station, and Ms. Hunt helped Carter produce a commercial to help get his fundraising efforts off the ground. He asked his school friends to bring in their loose change to help, and by the time he was presented the award, he'd collected almost $2,000. Airman 1st Class Rupert Laco, 81st Inpatient Operations Squadron, is military volunteer of the year, and Alex Aranda, 2nd Air Force, is sports volunteer of the year. Airman Laco, Keesler's honor guard member of the year for 2008, completed more than 50 ceremonies, including 46 funerals, and trained more than 48 members. At his citizenship ceremony, Airman Laco led the oath of allegiance for 150 new citizens from 89 countries. He participated in the American Heart Association's Heart Walk and was a team leader for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. Mr. Aranda has been involved in Biloxi's elite swim team program for seven years. He helped organize the Santa's Best meet for more than 300 Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida swimmers and coordinated military volunteers for the three-day event. He's worked in all aspects of the program, from being a timer for meets to grilling burgers at the team's concession stand.