The former Lancaster County resident and his 15-year-old sister, Josephine, both were diagnosed at birth with type IIA von Willebrand syndrome, an inherited blood-clotting disorder.

"Just having the disease means visiting doctors a lot," he said. "We don't remember anyone sitting us down and explaining what was going on. We just sort of always understood."

And they noticed the other sick children around them, many diagnosed with various types of cancer.

"We learned how we have it better than a lot of sick kids," Josephine said during a phone interview. "I mean, we have to be careful -- we can't do things like ice skate. But you'd never know we had a disease by looking at us."

The siblings decided their illness would never prevent them from embracing life, and as a result, they've contributed to more charitable organizations in their teens than most people do in an entire lifetime.

"We like to keep busy," Josephine said. "And most of all, we like helping people. Our parents raised us to be helpful."

Earlier this month in Lancaster, Patrick and Josephine threw a "birthday party" in which guests were asked to bring toys for hospitalized children.

"We raised $4,000 in toys and other gifts," Patrick said. "The idea for the parties came when I was 9 and in the hospital waiting for a blood plasma transfusion. There was a little girl with brain cancer looking for toys, and there weren't any there."

The siblings also raised more than $26,000 in cash and gifts for groups including National Hemophilia Foundation and Shelby Richter Fund, named for a New Jersey girl who died from sarcoma at age 13.

Patrick and Josephine moved to Linwood, N.J., about a year and half ago, but they frequently return to Lancaster to visit family and friends and work on causes that are important to them. They even invite people to enlist their help on their Web site, www.vonwillebrands.org.

"If there's a charity in Lancaster that needs us, we'll be there," Josephine said. "And when we have something going on in New Jersey, our Lancaster friends (will) come here and help us out."

The Droneys also contribute to Todd Beamer Foundation, Operation Christmas Child and a cause close to Josephine's heart, Project Red Flag.

"Red Flag is an awareness program that teaches the public about women's bleeding disorders," she said. "It's something I can relate to."

Despite all this generous community work, Patrick and Josephine still manage to have fulfilling personal lives.

Patrick plays guitar and harmonica and takes master music classes at Berkeley College in New Jersey. He has a power blues band, Bleak City, which has appeared at renowned clubs including Whiskey A Go Go in Los Angeles and The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, N.J. In April, he plans to audition to sing the national anthem at the Barnstormers' Clipper Magazine Stadium.

Josephine -- a Prudential Spirit of Community Award nominee -- has studied piano and violin but thinks of herself more as a "listener" than a musician.

And while her brother would love to be a star, singing on stages around the globe, Josephine's dreams involve medicine, not show business.

"I want to be a doctor," she said. "I'd really love that."

The accomplished teens -- whose story is featured this month in People magazine -- are the children of Dr. Timothy and Christine Droney and have a 9-year-old brother, Conner.

Christine said it's common for people to tell her how mature Patrick and Josephine are for their age.

"Because of their disease, they appreciate life more than other young people," she said. "Patrick's been taken to the hospital in an ambulance before, and they are both IV-certified -- just in case.

"They've had to think about very serious things," Christine said. "And what's important to them isn't as important to most teenagers."

But Patrick and Josephine have managed to have loads of fun during their campaigns and community projects. "Josephine met Julia Roberts once," Patrick said. "I met B.B. King, Olivia Newton John and Kevin Eubanks from 'The Tonight Show.' Famous people are really nice when it comes to charity work."

Their mother is most proud of the way her children have inspired others to be proactive.

"They come up with projects, and soon they're getting other kids involved," she said. "Suddenly, their idea becomes a community effort. The Shelby Richter Fund they helped start for NHF now goes on every year."

Both Patrick and Josephine said they'll continue to do more than their share of humanitarian work, no matter how busy their schedules get. "There's nothing better than giving to other kids who need help," Josephine said. "No hobby or sport can make you feel that good. That's why we do what we do."

"There's nothing better than giving to other kids who need help. No hobby or sport can make you feel that good."

Josephine Droney

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