WICHITA, Kan. (KSN-TV) -- Once a month, a special visitor comes to Wesley Children's Hospital to reward the kids with a metal for their mettle. "I come in and usually let them pick which medal they would like. We have Prairie Fire medals, Kansas City medals, and Disney medals sometimes," explained Tiffany Stepien, Wichita Coordinator for Medals4Mettle. "The kid gets to pick whatever they like if it's an airplane or an astronaut or a cow, and it really cheers them up." Medals4Mettle is a national nonprofit that collects hardware from endurance races to give to kids and adults battling diseases and illnesses. "This is a totally different kind of achievement. Battling the things that they're going through is totally different than sports, but it still deserves a medal," said Averie Mountain, volunteer and Miss Kansas Teen 2024. Mountain has worked with the nonprofit several times to give away medals at her Just a Kid Like Me camps. "The way they would just sit there and look at them and feel them with their hands like it was super touching," she said. Every medal is earned through sweat and perseverance. "We let them know that someone earned this medal with lots of hours of training and effort, and they ran a race for them, and they wanted to encourage them to be brave and tough," Stepien explained. The surprise served as a mood booster for 13-year-old Natalia as she battles leukemia. "I love it! Really colorful," she said, looking at the medal. "These kids are tough. They listen to their nurses and doctors. They do their OT, PT, whether they like it or not, and they get they get better," Stepien said. The memento from race day is given a new purpose. "Your one medal could change one kid's life," Mountain said. It could encourage patients to keep pushing. The nonprofit gifted 300 medals this year and is aiming to donate 400 in 2025. You can drop off any endurance medal (13.1 miles and more) at both Wichita Fleet Feet stores and through Run Wichita. You can also donate money to buy new ribbons that go on each medal. If you would like to nominate a nonprofit for our Here For You Spotlight, fill out our online contact form.