Molly Sharkey was just 12 years old when she was diagnosed with a rare type of leukemia. As she and her family traveled the country to find treatments, they sometimes found comfort in places like the Ronald McDonald House - but in many places there was nowhere nearby for the family to stay.
This experience prompted Molly's dream of building a house in her hometown that would be available to any family who had a loved one being treated for critical care at area hospitals. She imagined a home filled with warmth, comfort, and care - right down to the window seat in the library, which she described in the journal she kept throughout her journey.
Molly passed away in May of 1992 at the age of 18.
Inspired by her vision, her family and friends raised the funds to build Molly's House, and many businesses donated time and materials. Molly's House was truly a community-built project. The grand opening was held on September 21, 1996, to celebrate what would have been Molly's 23rd Birthday.
We welcome you to enjoy the video below that captures Molly's journey.
