Last modified: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 12:18 AM EDT GUEST COLUMN: Make a difference in an inner-city child's life BY CLAIRE DUCKMANTON A few years ago my family and I moved from Providence to Seekonk. The time had come to give our growing family some outdoor space they really needed. Walking around Thayer Street, stopping for coffee gave my kids less pleasure than it did me! With the move came a sort of mid-life crisis thing. We bought a dog, a rabbit and six laying chickens. My husband put his foot down when I talked about a goat. Our new home environment was everything we had hoped for and it seemed selfish to keep it to ourselves, so when a friend told me about the Fresh Air Fund, I was excited to find out more. After some on-line research, we decided it was just what we were looking for. An opportunity to give something back. The Fresh Air Fund has been providing free vacations to inner-city New York children from low-income neighborhoods for over 100 years. All we had to do was open our home and hearts to a child for two week during the summer - we could do this! Our journey began. Our first visitor was Alsheek, a 9-year-old from Brooklyn. He left New York on a bus with 30 other Fresh Air children, escorted by volunteers, leaving his parents behind at the city bus stop. Can you imagine, a six-hour bus ride and arriving to meet a family you had never met? Some of these children are as young as 6. Alsheek quickly settled in and the fun began. It was wonderful for us to see Alsheek enjoying the simple things we take for granted, riding a bike, swimming and going to the beach. Of course, it wasn't all fun and games; my children struggled with him wanting to play 24 hours a day and waking them at 6 a.m. to go swimming. It took patience and understanding, but the rewards far outweighed any hiccups. This year we are excited to welcome back Kyra, a wonderful 10-year-old. Four years on, I am now the local chairperson. I see my role as ambassador, publicist and recruiter of families who are ready, willing and able to make a difference in a child's life. CLAIRE DUCKMANTON lives in Seekonk.