Gov. Scott Walker will be wearing purple on Wednesday, Aug. 13.
And he urges everyone to do the same in support of the 12-year-old Waukesha girl who nearly lost her life after being stabbed 19 times, allegedly by two of her classmates in May.
On Tuesday afternoon, the governor issued a proclamation declaring Wednesday, Aug. 13, as "Purple Hearts for Healing Day" across the state of Wisconsin. As a result, Walker invites the rest of the state to join him in wearing purple in the girl's honor.
Purple is the girl's favorite color and hearts are her favorite shape. Purple hearts have become the theme in the girl's recovery as supporters all across the world have sent her homemade purple hearts with heartfelt messages written on them. She also recently received a military Purple Heart from an anonymous veteran.
Walker is the latest to offer his kind words to the victim and her family.
"This little girl is overcoming a terrible ordeal with the help of family, friends, medical professionals and the incredible outpouring of love and support from the great people here in Wisconsin and around the world," Walker said in a news release. "Her strength and determination are an inspiration, and on behalf of Wisconsin, I wish her well as she continues her journey to recovery."
Walker added Aug. 13 carries special meaning to this little girl and her family, as most members of her family were born on the 13th of different months.
Besides wearing purple on Wednesday, people can continue to send purple hearts to Hearts for Healing, P.O. Box 407, Waukesha, WI 53187-0407. They can also still donate money to the girl through her online fundraising website or through any local BMO Harris Bank and mention The Hearts for Healing Fund.
More than $59,500 has been raised through the fundraising website and close to $30,000 from the BMO Harris Bank fund, said Stephen Lyons, who works as a public affairs adviser for the law firm Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C., and is serving as the family spokesman.
With the girl's medical and legal bills continuing to mount, groups from Madison have scheduled a fundraiser for the victim and her family. Metcalfe's Markets and Johnsonville, companies that put on the "World's Largest Brat Fest" each Memorial Day weekend in Madison, are putting on a fundraiser, along with other businesses, to help the victim's family pay their mounting medical bills.
The fundraiser, called "Feed Your Heart Mini Brat Fest," is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, in the parking lot of Metcalfe's Market on Madison's west side adjacent to the West Towne Mall at 7455 Mineral Point Road, Madison.
All of the proceeds from the event will go to the family.
The criminal complaint notes that the suspects in the case, Morgan E. Geyser and Anissa E. Weier, told police that they plotted for months to kill the victim as a way to prove themselves worthy to Slender Man, a fictitious Internet horror character.
After nearly stabbing her to death, the 12-year-old suspects said they planned to walk to the Nicolet National Forest in northern Wisconsin where they believed Slender Man lived in a mansion.
Geyser and Weier are charged as adults with attempted first-degree intentional homicide. Weier has a preliminary hearing in September, while Geyser — who was evaluated by two doctors — has been deemed incompetent to continue. The legal proceedings, as a result, have been halted for her until she becomes competent.