The generosity and support of this community continues to humble us. Thank you so much for all you do. To the Friends of Chapel Hill House, we know there could be no Chapel Hill House without you. Thank you for all you do for us and the kids and families battling cancer here in Central Ohio. Also a huge thanks to the event sponsors and everyone who turned out on Saturday!

This year, Chapel Hill is booked solid from this weekend through September, all your support provides a retreat for the kids and families who need us most.

The Friends of Chapel Hill House gather at the shelter house dedicated in their honor.

We need the support of sponsors in order to be able to keep Chapel Hill house running at its finest and to be able to allow the most families to use the facilities.

One partnership that we have been fortunate to have over the last 3 years is our partnership with Lifting Hopes. Lifting Hopes is a pump and run that was founded in order to help raise money to give hope to children with pediatric cancer. When Lifting Hopes started the money raised went to both Make-a-Wish foundation and Chapel Hill House.

This year all of the proceeds of Lifting Hopes are going to Chapel Hill House. The money that is donated will provide improvements to the house and the land. For example paving the driveway and creating gravel paths for families to walk in the woods. Improvements like these will make it easier for pediatric cancer patients who are in more physically limiting positions to be able to come to the home and stay.

The Lifting Hopes Pump and Run is going to be on October 7th in New Albany, Ohio. The pump and run is a 5k with a bench press challenge, and is one of the few pump and runs that offer a team option. If you get together a team of 4 you can save on your registration and compete against other teams.

Thanks for all of your support of Chapel Hill House over the years! We hope that you will come out and support us at this year’s Lifting Hopes event!

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