The event is sponsored by Ride for A Cure, a non profit group dedicated to raising awareness and funds for cancer research. “We are honored that Ride for A Cure has chosen to support Chapel Hill House this year,” said Jason Joseph, Chairman of the Chapel Hill House Board of Directors. Joseph said as many of 500 riders are expected for the event.

Members of the media interested in attending the event can contact Bill Balderaz at 937-215-6148 or bbalderaz@webbedmarketing.com to arrange interviews, get directions or to learn more about the event.

If we were to ask the families who stay at Chapel Hill House their favorite things about this retreat, every one would say “the golf cart” somewhere on that list.

You see, while all kids like riding motorized vehicles around the woods, for Chapel Hill House campers, it’s a little different. Many kids are physically unable to hike the trails. They may have spent weeks or months confined to a hospital bed, or they may be in the midst of radiation or chemotherapy. The mobility that most kids take for granted is something many of our campers can only dream about.

Then, imagine these same kids visiting 72 beautiful acres. Trails wind through the woods. There are campfires, a one room school house, a pasture with wooden animals, a playground and wildlife…a whole world to explore. We just need to help empower these kids to make exploring a little easier for them, their parents and their siblings.

Enter the golf cart.

The golf cart allowed our families to explore the nooks and crannies around Chapel Hill House. To travel the trails, to follow the creek, to enjoy the green of spring, the heat of summer and colors of fall.

Until last week.

That’s when our golf cart, after years of use and thousands of miles taking hundreds of kids along the trails of Chapel Hill House finally gave out on us.

Now, we need your help. A good off road golf cart will cost us about $7,000. We need your help now more than ever.  If you can help us out, please donate via our Facebook Causes page or by sending us a donation. Your donation is tax deductable and will help us get Chapel Hill Kids back on the trails again!

Please stop by often to see what updates we have and if you are a family who is dealing with pediatric cancer, please contact us and arrange for a visit to Chapel Hill House! We would love to have you!

• Date: Saturday, May 15, 2010
• Time: 9:00am – 10:30pm
• Location: Prospect American Legion Post 368
• Street: 308 S Main St
• City/Town: Prospect, OH
• View Map

–Proceeds to help provide respite for children with cancer and their families–

Please pass on event details to everyone you know that might be interested!

Dozens of motorcyclists from across Central Ohio are expected to gather for the annual event, now in its fifth year. “This is one of our most important fundraisers of the year,” said Jason Joseph, Chairman of the Chapel Hill House Board of Directors.

Joseph explained that funds raised from the poker run and other events are used to maintain the 72 acre retreat and two log buildings at Chapel Hill House. Located in Marion County, Chapel Hill House provides children in the midst of cancer treatment a weekend of rest and relaxation.

There is no charge for families to use the cabin. Chapel Hill House has hosted more than 200 families from Columbus and the surrounding areas since 2003. Photo and interview opportunities will be available with Chapel Hill board members and Kelli Robinson, a Columbus athlete who is competing in an Iron Girl Triathlon this summer to raise money and awareness for Chapel Hill House. For more information on Chapel Hill House visit www.chapelhillhouse.org.

Media contact: Bill Balderaz bbalderaz@webbedmarketing.com

Board Member – Chapel Hill House Phone: 614-291-8456

The cabin is located at 3892 Morral Kirkpatrick Rd W in Morral, Ohio. For driving directions contact Bill Balderaz, below.
Photo and interview opportunities will be available with families who have stayed at Chapel Hill House, as well as with Chapel Hill board members and Kelli Robinson, a Columbus athlete who is competing in an Iron Girl Triathlon this summer to raise money and awareness for Chapel Hill House. For more information on Chapel Hill House visit www.chapelhillhouse.org.

Media contact: Bill Balderaz

bbalderaz@webbedmarketing.com

Board Member – Chapel Hill House

Phone: 614-291-8456

But to Robinson, this is about much more than race. “I’m dedicating this race, my training and all my efforts to families battling childhood cancer,” she said. Robinson explained that she became inspired to compete in the event when she was looking for a way to honor the memory of her friend and mentor Larry Joseph, who lost his battle to cancer in January of 2005, but not before spending the last months of his life building a retreat for children with cancer and their families. “Chapel Hill House sits on 71 secluded acres in Marion county and provides a place for families suffering through the hardship of cancer a place to dream, giggle and believe,” says Jason Joseph, son of Larry Joseph and Chairman of the Chapel Hill House Board of Directors.

Joseph explained that his father was a high school art teacher and that Robinson was one of his students. “Kelli and my father stayed close after she graduated and during his illness. He was proud of her talents and accomplishments.” Joseph explained that his father had bought land in Marion County with plans to build a log cabin as a retirement home. Shortly after purchasing the land, he was diagnosed with cancer. “My dad decided to dedicate the rest of his life to creating a place where those families who are dealing with pediatric cancer to get away from the chaos that daily life provides a patient child and their family. The cabin was originally located in Caldwell, Ohio where it was disassembled and relocated to Morral, Ohio.

Just as the reconstruction of the cabin was coming to a close, an opportunity arose to relocate another log building onto the property. This time a very generous family from Marion, OH donated what used to be their home. This building was then modified to become what is currently the barn that sits adjacent to the log home at Chapel Hill House,” Joseph said. According to Joseph, Chapel Hill House hosted 39 families in 2009, one almost every weekend between March and October and several during the week in the summer. Robinson, who has remained close to the Joseph family, said she felt the need to give back to the person who was such an inspiration to her. “I’m doing this in honor of Larry Joseph and to raise money and awareness for Chapel Hill House” she said. “My goals is to raise $3,600 for Chapel Hill House”, Robinson said.

Robinson added that she will document her training and the event on her blog at www.chapelhillhouse.org and on the Chapel Hill Facebook page www.facebook.com/chapelhillhouse and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/chapelhillhouse. Individuals and organizations interested in sponsoring Kelli can visit http://www.chapelhillhouse.org/Contribute.html

About Chapel Hill House

Chapel Hill House is a retreat where families battling childhood cancer can rest in the seclusion and privacy of a log cabin sitting on 72 beautiful acres in Marion County. The cabin, originally built in 1835 and rebuilt by Larry Joseph in 2001 following his own cancer diagnosis, combines modern amenities with the peace and tranquility of a country retreat. Since 2003 more than 200 families have enjoyed Chapel Hill House as a place to dream, giggle and believe. There is no charge for families to stay at Chapel Hill House. Individuals and organizations interested contributing to Chapel Hill House can visit www.chapelhillhouse.org/

As I prepare for my first Iron Girl, in hopes of spreading awareness about Chapel Hill House, I have invested in some new gear! CHECK IT OUT! Got my first set of clip-in! So excited! Hopefully these will help me on race day!