Community Corner
Weston Abusamra Helps Diabetes Research
Eleven year old Weston Abusamra is using a portion of proceeds from his own airbrush temporary tattoo business to help diabetes research.
Whiz Kid: Weston J. Abusamra, 11
Whiz Kid's School: Fifth grader at
Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Abusamra started Weston’s Airbrush Mania, a temporary airbrush tattoo business. He shares part of his proceeds to benefit diabetes research.
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Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Weston, like other kids his age, enjoys the latest toys and electronic gadgets.
Weston's mom, Linda, said that he really wanted something and she and her husband told him he needed to figure out how to earn the money to buy it.
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Both of Weston's parents are self employed, so thinking of a business of his own was the logical step for Weston to take. After researching ideas with the help of his parents, Weston’s Airbrush Mania was launched officially at Applefest 2010. He charged customers between six and eight dollars per temporary tattoo and his booth was quite popular.
What are his most popular temporary tattoo designs? "The girls seemed to like the hearts with arrows, and the boys liked the dragons," Weston noted.
Weston decided that part of his business proceeds would be donated for medical research. He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes right before his fourth birthday and is insulin dependent, which requires shots three times a day.
Dr. Denise Faustman, director of Immunobiology Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital, has cured Type 1 diabetes in mice and is now in round two of human trials.
Linda commented that as a family they have been "following the research, all the new developments and it is exciting. We don't know Dr. Faustman personally, but we feel like we know her."
It is Dr. Faustman's research that Weston decided to support with part of his business earnings. Weston is very happy with his decision to donate to this cause and is optimistic that a cure for diabetes will happen.
Weston has since added additional airbrushes to his business equipment, which will enable him to use additional colors. He plans to work at more fairs and festivals, be able to hire an employee to help him, and of course, continue to donate to diabetes research.
He is also available to work at birthday parties and events and can be contacted by e-mail.
Weston also plays the alto saxaphone, self teaching himself to play the piano, and recently crossed over from Cub Scout to Boy Scouts.
