Amazing kids who are changing the world

KSDK -- As they sit on the floor and paint a mural for Mason Elementary, they sort of look like every other kid.

However, if you squat down and talk to any of these kids you quickly realize they're amazingly different.

"I go out and talk to soldiers and tell em about my legs," explains 7-year-old Cody McCasland.

"I went out and tried to recruit bone marrow donors around the country and I recruited over 20,000 bone marrow donors and I've saved 12 lives so far," says Pat Pedraja.

"I started vegetable gardens and donate the produce to soup kitchens to help feed people in need," adds Katie Stagliano.

These are just three of about 900 stories sent to Maxine Clark, the founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop, this year. For the last six years, she's honored kids making a difference, she calls them "Huggable Heroes."

"They just do so many special things and I think people don't always give kids the credit they deserve. If we really took kids and energized them to their ability this world be such more productive," Clark explains.

Last week, 12 kids from all over the country were flown in to be honored. In the meantime, they also inspired everyone they met.

For example, there's Pat Pedarja.

"I started Driving for Donors when I was 10 after I was diagnosed with leukemia and three of my closest friends passed away because they couldn't find a marrow match," says Pedarja.

He's just one of these incredible human beings. Add these 12 kids accomplishments together and they have raised more than $16 mllion and have donated more than 6,000 hours of their time.