SARASOTA: Unfortunately for Cardinal Mooney graduate Candie Barrameda, this news of needing a kidney transplant was her new reality.

So, she took to social media to start spreading it, in hopes of finding a donor match. Her donor, amazingly enough, a hometown girl, Kathryn Kochevar, a graduate of Pine View School.

Now Barreameda has shifted her focus on finding a donor for herself, to bridging the gap for others searching for a match just like she was less than a year ago.

Bonded eternally, Barrameda and Kochevar have started to lay the groundwork for new kidney foundation.

Despite her mission to help others, Barrameda still needs help herself as medical bills and other expenses pile up during her recovery process. That’s why we’ve decided to award Barrameda our February $1000 grant through Helping Hand sponsored by Carl Reynolds Law.

A beautiful story of strangers, sacrifice, and sisterhood, Barremeda knows first hand the impact of pure goodwill and says that’s what’s important in life.