The Pre-Vet Club and the Student Chapter of American Veterinary Medical Association hosted a fundraiser at Orange Leaf for the Josh and Friends Project on Monday night.

The Josh and Friends Project was formed by Dr. Randy Lange, a veterinarian and graduate of Iowa State’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

When Lange’s daughter, Jessica, was 9 years old, she was scheduled to have her tonsils removed.

Lange said his daughter was terrified, like many children are when they have to have surgery. Lange did not like that his daughter was so scared.

“I found out the night Jessica was in post-op recovery as I walked up and down the hospital hallways that every day there are thousands of kids who are dropped off at the front desk of the hospital and then left alone in the hospital for their surgery or chemo or whatever,” Lange said.

According to the Josh and Friends website, children are scared “not because their mom or dad doesn’t want to be there but because they simply cannot be there.”

He goes on to explain on the website that he started thinking about how hard it was for his daughter, with her questions and fears, with her parents there. He “was left heartbroken for the children who had no one.”

In response to this, he wrote the book “I’ll be O.K.” The book was about his golden retriever, Josh, who was terrified to get surgery, but needed to because he was sick.

In the book, Josh has a friend, Smudge, who is there to comfort him and help him on his journey in getting well, and Smudge helps Josh realize he is going to be OK.

“We basically fundraise to buy kids these kits for when they go to the hospital. The kit includes a stuffed toy Josh and the book ‘I’ll Be O.K.,’” said Kathleen Gibson, senior in animal science and a co-chairwoman of the Josh Project for the Pre-Vet Club.

The Pre-Vet Club Josh and Friends Project works with the SCAVMA Josh and Friends project at Iowa State’s College of Veterinary Medicine to reach the goal of buying as many kits as possible for kids who need comfort in the face of a hospitalization or surgery.

“It’s really nice that when the child’s family can’t be there, Josh can be there to help comfort them,” said Katie Imhoff, sophomore in biology and the other co-chairwoman of Josh Project for the Pre-Vet Club.

Gibson explained that she was looking for an executive position in the Pre-Vet Club two years ago, and when she heard about the Josh Project co-chairperson and worked with it, she knew she wanted to do it.

“I just loved the mission and being able to help humans even though we’re the Pre-Vet Club,” Gibson said.

Imhoff was just as enthusiastic about her co-chairwoman position.

“I love kids, and I wouldn’t change executive positions for anything because I really love it,” Imhoff said.

The most rewarding part, though, they both said, is getting to deliver the kits.

“In the spring, we take all the money we’ve fundraised and actually get to deliver kits we’ve bought to kids at hospitals like the Iowa City Children’s Hospital,” Gibson said.

“The kids love it, and we love getting to play with them and read to them, and it’s so rewarding,” Imhoff agreed.

The Josh Project will be hosting a redeemable can drive during Veishea in front of Kildee Hall, and information will be given out about it by members. The money will, like the Orange Leaf fundraiser, go to buying the Josh Project kits for children, as well as a portion to the Children’s Miracle Network.