Darla Hall
Darla Hall with Hunter Alexander, one of the special young men she befriended through her activity book efforts.
Tell us about how your team-themed activity books came into being?
In 2011-2012, I owned a marketing company called Hall Marketing. I handled marketing consulting for a variety of clients. One client was Burdette Dental Lab.
One day in September 2011, I contacted my client to set up a meeting. Chris Waldrop answered the phone and said, “Darla, I won’t be able to meet. My son was just struck by a car, and I’m going to the hospital.” I immediately checked back with his staff and found out that his mom witnessed the accident outside of his school, and that both of his legs were broken, but he was going to be OK.
It was then that my motherly instincts kicked in, and I went out shopping for a gift for him. He was a big Alabama fan, so the gift needed to be perfect to suit an 8-year-old little boy who was going to be confined for a long time. I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for, so I settled for something and went home that night and created the very first Roll Tide Activity Book.
My thoughts immediately went to the other children in hospitals who couldn’t get out and play. I wanted to make the book into an interactive app because I knew that this would be a great tool for kids to learn about the teams and keep their mind off of harsh treatments. I went on to create the War Eagle Activity Book and went through the licensing process with the CLC (Collegiate Licensing Company) and the universities and made this gift into a reality.
Miles Waldrop received his “real gift” in July 2012. From there, I began a business of the mind and the heart. I donated hundreds of books to children in local hospitals.
The book, Angels Yell Roll Tide, was a deeply personal project. Tell us about it.
It’s a true story that was inspired by two boys who I built strong relationships with over the past two years. Hunter Alexander and Ryan Kitchens were both recipients of my very first activity books. From there, I grew close to them, made frequent visits to the hospital and their homes, and talked to their moms on as many occasions as I could.
After I saw the struggles and celebrations that they went through, I realized what a powerful impact the Alabama football team had on their lives.
As Ryan was in his final days, I was able to ask his permission to write a story about him. I think back often to that day when he told me “yes” with a big smile.
The story takes you through their inspiring journey. Thomas Sullivan, another little boy who was an Auburn fan, passed away when I was finished writing the story. I wanted to include him in the book, so I added a page about him and talked about how it doesn’t matter what team you cheer for, everyone is cheering for a cure for childhood cancer.
How did your family respond to this project taking on a life of its own?
My family has been very supportive of this business and “heart” venture. I involve my kids in some of the relationships that I have built with the children that I help, and I hope it has impacted their lives and will make them want to give back one day.
My 15-year-old son was able to go with me to visit one of the boys as he was getting close to earning his wings. This was a moment that I’ll never forget, and I hope he doesn’t either.
A singer, Olivia Noelle, came to visit Ryan, an 8-year-old little boy who had brain cancer, and sang Ryan’s favorite song to him. It was a special moment for his family, and I’m so thankful that we got to share it with them.
I try to teach my kids how important it is to let God lead the way and to let his will be done. I want to lead them by example. My youngest son once asked me, “Mom, why do you help these kids?” My response to him was, “If you were sick, I would want someone who cared to be by our side every step of the way.
I wouldn’t want people to turn their back on us. There are so many mean things in the world. If people would do one act of kindness a day, the world would be a better place. And, it’s the right thing to do.”
You are voluntarily putting yourself in the path of a family’s most gut-wrenching season of life. What is your motivation? Why get involved, especially with something as devastating as childhood cancer?
The very first time I met Eli and Hunter, two boys who were recipients of my first activity books, I knew that this was what I was supposed to do with my life. They touched me in a way that is hard to explain. These kids who have life-threatening illnesses have a special personality, a way about them, a positive attitude, a faith and strength that no one else has, a gift of influence, a wholesome gratitude that is missing in this world where most kids get everything they want or need.
I do get sad, and I do invest myself in these kids. I don’t worry about the sadness. Without sadness, we don’t learn about true happiness. We don’t build meaningful relationships. We may miss out on what we’re supposed to do. Without risk, we don’t reap rewards. Without effort, I wouldn’t have met these kids who have changed my life. The golden rule applies with these children and their families. If my child were sick, I would want love and support. I wouldn’t want people to be afraid to get close to them just because they are afraid of sadness.
It’s so easy to ignore pain and hurt, but I try to use the pain and hurt to help more people, to inspire, to take more action to make this world a better place to live — one book, one story, one app, one kid, one smile at a time.
Describe a funny or poignant moment you’ve shared with a recipient of one of your books.
The funniest moment was when I went to Ryan’s mom’s wedding. He is a huge Alabama fan, and she is an LSU fan.
He was sitting in a chair looking really sad and was not going to walk his mom down the aisle. I went up to him and gave him a hug and said, “What’s wrong, Ryan?” He pouted and said, “These purple flowers,” as he pointed down to his boutonnière. He didn’t like the LSU purple flowers in it.
I just sat there and smiled as I pulled every purple flower out of it. Then, he lit up and ran over and happily walked his mom down the aisle. I still have those flowers in my jewelry box.
Darla lives in the Vesclub area of Vestavia Hills with her husband Ryan, who works at Vulcan Materials, and their four children: Collin Shields is a junior at Samford, Gavin is a sophomore at the high school, where he attends with his sister, Hannah, a freshman. Rian is an eighth-grader at Pizitz.
