This is a diary about giving back. It's a personal story with a request involved, so if you are not into that, this is not a diary for you.
In 2002 my daughter was diagnosed with a rare auto-immune disease called Relapsing Polychondritis. It’s an insidious disease wherein the immune system attacks all the cartilage in the body. This results in painful, deteriorating joints, inflamed ears, and can progress to attack the eyes, the nervous system, and can cause the collapse of the entire respiratory system. After years of dangerous treatments with drugs that produce scary side-effects (a prednisone-methotrexate cocktail) a really smart doctor prescribed instead a drug that is used primarily to avoid rejection in transplant patients. The upshot is that my daughter is now ‘well’ for he first time in many years. She has taken up walking for exercise and walks to and from work—six miles each way. The change is miraculous. If Scarlett did not have superb, affordable heath care and access to this one in a million doctor, she would still be in decline. We feel blessed.
We were excited when Scarlett announced her intention to participate in the More Fitness Half-Maration for Women on April 3rd in NYC. This is a huge challenge for her. The goal is go run, or walk, as she will do, 13.2 miles around Central Park in four hours or less. She is walking to raise money for Paul Newman’s organization, The Hole in the Wall Gang, a charity that sends very sick children to a special summer camp. Kids there can participate in all the usual camping activities, while receiving treatments for their illnesses, including dialysis, transfusions and chemotherapy.
The camp, located in Ashford, Connecticut is a non-profit, residential summer camp and a year-round outreach center for children and their families coping with cancer and other serious illnesses and conditions. Through Camp programs, year-round outreach to hospitals and clinics, and ongoing services for children, families, and caregivers, the Camp serves more than 15,000 annually. All of the Camp's services are provided free of charge.
Quick Facts at a Glance
Anticipated 2011 Facts
Children to be served: 15,000
Percent of funding from Newman’s Own: 2%
Number of year-round staff: 57
Number of seasonal staff: 72
Number of volunteers: 1000+
Hospital Outreach Program child visits: 18,000
Cost to send one child to Camp: $2,500 (All services are free.)
I’ve checked out this group and am impressed with what I’ve found. It is truly stands out as a cause that is reputable and worthy. They do good work. They spend their dollars on the kids.
Scarlett is attempting to raise $1,000 for the Hole in the Wall Gang Camps. She’s got a start but has a ways to go, and has exhausted her friends and colleagues. I am hoping that Kossacks will come to the rescue; with small donations from a lot of people we can push this effort over the edge. If you can help, we’d be grateful.
Here’s a link where you can donate to Scarlett’s fundraising page: http://teamholeinthewall.kintera.org/...
Heres a link to a video that will tell you more about the Camp and the kids they serve:
http://www.youtube.com/...
Thanks, Kossacks!