2021 Holiday Open House
"You showered us with HOLIDAY LOVE!"
— Mom of a childhood cancer hero
Hero families with a child in in active treatment received plenty of holiday cheer at the 2021 Holiday Open House on Tuesday, December 7, 2021. The Holiday Open House showed the hero families that there is a large community who care for them and want to give hope to them during this difficult time.
Celia (Executive Director), Erin (Program Director), Anne-Randolph (Program Coordinator) and Ceci (Development Coordinator) decorated the office into a winter wonderland. The Holiday Open House was our first family event in our new location on Broad Street!
"Tonight we got to celebrate the holidays with our sweet Connor's Heroes Foundation friends!!"
Throughout the day, parents and kids popped into the office. Some stopped by after their child’s appointment in clinic. A few parents shared the good news that their child moved off of treatment and moved up to maintenance. A big milestone in the child’s cancer journey!!
No matter their age — whether it was one-year-old Hailey up to 16-year-old Arianna — everyone enjoyed their brief visit jammed packed with fun. It was wonderful when several hero families finally met Erin after all these months texting, calling, and talking on the phone.
"The kids made ornaments, decorated cookies, drank hot chocolate, took some pictures! It was fabulous!"
You gave our hero families this wonderful time together. Each family left with gift bags dangling off their arms, piles of homemade cookies, and a crazy drink called a hot chocolate bomb (google it!). Every parent was grateful for the $250 gift card Celia or Erin handed them (or put in the mail). With this generous gift, they can purchase the holiday essentials such as travel to visit their family, buy groceries for a holiday dinner, or purchase that one special gift for which their child has been hoping for.
Connor’s Heroes wants to thank the holiday elves who helped host the Holiday Open House.
• Board members Marla, Cathy, Karrie, Tammy, and Gwendolyn were our greeters, decorators, card writers, and hot chocolate makers.
• Jill Voekler and Erin made plates and plates of delicious cookies.
• Cathy Heizer and Marla Fergerson doubled every dollar donated to the Holiday Hero Fund.
Thank you to all the generous people who donated to the holiday hero fund. You gifted hope and gave hope to all of our childhood cancer heroes. Yes, you are a holiday hero!
Ann D.
Anne and Tim B.
Blair P.
Bob and Bettylou Y.
Bob and Rhonda P.
Bolling S.
Bradley G.
Bruce and Crystal T.
Bud and Robin J.
Carey and Robert C.
Carla S.
Cathy H.
Celia and Dan M.
Cheryl T.
Chris and Laura M.
Chris and Vickie R.
Connie M.
Darrell and Marsha R.
David and Kay W.
Davis D.
Denise G.
Dennis and Deborah W.
Dianne S.
Don and Becky B.
Douglas and Lila G.
Dwayne and Janice M.
Elaine H.
Elizabeth M.
Elizabeth P.
Eric and Kendall E.
Erin and Britt C.
Forrest and Beverly M.
Francie M.
Frank and Kathryn B.
Gayton Baptist Church
Harris Mechanical Services, Inc
Henry M.
Herbert and Barbara J.
Jack and Marla F.
James and Christine H.
James H.
James H.
Jeff and Brenda S.
Jeff and Monica W.
Jeff S.
Jerry and Michelle S.
Jodi S.
John C.
Johnnie N.
Joseph and Janice Z.
Julia T.
Justin & Lacy Financial LLC
Keith H.
Kelli P.
Kenny and Sharon T.
Kevin and Emily W.
Kevin and Theresa H.
Kevin S.
Kyle and Jane M.
Laurel J.
Linda L.
Lynn M.
Marc and Barbara M.
Margaret and Scott H.
Mary R.
MassMutual
Matt R.
Matthew and Tammy G.
Melinda B.
Nicole J.
Pamela P.
Patricia M.
Paul C.
Perry and Anne-Randolph C.
Richard and Elinor B.
Rick and Rosemarie S.
RiverFront Investment Group, LLC
Robert and Susan H.
Ronnie M.
Scott and Mary P.
Scott and Melissa B.
Scott M.
Stanley and Bonnie C.
Sue L.
Teresa H.
Thomas B.
Tim and Leslie S.
Tom and Jill V.
Vicki H.
Wilbur and Ann L.
Today's Helping Hero: Kristin Seward and Patience Salgado
Today’s Helping Hero is the dynamic duo of Kristin Seward and Patience Salgado!
You’ve seen their names before. Kristin and Patience produced the powerful photo series Heart of the Family. They profiled the parents of Emory, Everett, and Cooper during September Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. This time, they volunteered their talents and took holiday portraits of our hero families. Dozens of families signed up and showed up at Bryan Park. Bryan Park was decked out in a beautiful array of brilliant fall colors. Some families brought their beloved four-legged family members to pose with the family. Jonathan’s mom couldn’t leave out his beloved pet: his giant rabbit named Coco! Everyone met Connor’s Heroes new buddy: Erin’s puppy, Dolly Rose.
Thank you Kristin and Patience for giving our hero families a special moment together — and capturing them in beautiful portraits they will treasure.
Evie 💙 A Hero In a Blue T-shirt
“Connor’s Heroes never stops. They give graciously, as if my kids were their own family.”
— Evie’s mom, Danielle
Danielle is mom to three children under the age of four. Evie is the middle child and the only girl. “On Wednesday, January 13, 2021, we heard those words that are every parent’s nightmare, ‘I’m sorry. It’s cancer.’” Doctors diagnosed Evie with neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that almost always affects children. Connor’s Heroes can help Evie and over a hundred children in treatment in Central Virginia today.
“Connor’s Heroes is about making the journey a little less stressful, so I can focus on what is important: the time I have with my children.”
EVIE’S ENDEAVOR — THE START OF HER JOURNEY
“Evie’s Endeavor started in October of 2020 with a sudden onset of behavioral issues. The kind that we have all joked about when our kids are acting like “the devil.” The only difference was hers never stopped. Little did we know that the issue within her tiny body was much bigger than anything we could ever imagine.
After about six weeks of this behavior, we found ourselves in the hospital. What we thought would be a long day, turned into an inpatient stay lasting five days. We walked away with no answers on what could be wrong with her neurologically.
Fast forward three weeks to include one more inpatient stay, we were back at VCU awaiting a CT of her abdomen when we first learned that cancer was a possibility.
On January 13th, 2021, we heard those four words that are every parent’s nightmare, “I’m sorry. It’s cancer.” Evie was diagnosed with neuroblastoma.
Within 36 hours from her diagnosis, she was in surgery to have a biopsy of the tumor, port placement, and bone marrow draw. The “routine” three hour surgery turned into eight. Around hour six, doctors told us they removed the tumor. Talk about being shocked. That wasn’t even a topic in conversation before she went into surgery.
Evie has been through different immunotherapies as well as four rounds of chemo in an eight month time.
On August 13th, 2021, Evie was declared cancer-free.
Currently, she is back in treatment as some of her symptoms have come back. She had her second set of clear scans at the beginning of October and for that, I could not be more thankful. VCU has some of the most amazing doctors, but I know God had his hand on my baby girl, and I will continue to pray he always will.”
“The financial struggle doesn’t end when your child is declared cancer free. Connor’s Heroes knows that. They continue to help my family into the next phase of Evie’s journey.”
DONATIONS TO CONNOR’S HEROES WERE A LIFELINE FOR EVIE’S FAMILY
After Evie started treatment, she received a Connor’s Heroes Bag and Backpack. Inside were crafts, games, toiletries, and her very own an iPad!
“There were so many fun and engaging things in the Connor’s Heroes Bag and Backpack. She is in LOVE with her “Be A Hero” shirt. It’s oversized and oh so comfy! Her iPad is probably her second favorite and a lifesaver on clinic days! All of the personal hygiene items have been a lifesaver when those check-ups turn into entire days worth of treatment or tests.”
“Connor’s Heroes mailed us a Family Fun Pack filled with the cutest summer items. Inside was a bean bag toss game, sunglasses for all three kiddos, as well as some leis and small items they all loved so much!
In the beginning, we went to VCU anywhere from one to three times a week. A round trip was over 70 miles and very hard on our one-income family. The gas cards I received in the mail from Connor’s Heroes made the difference in making every appointment or missing out on some. The grocery cards were absolutely amazing.
The gift cards help us get through the tough weeks or I put them away for the “unknowns.” There are so many of those in the cancer world.“
“From her very first phone call, Erin gave me comfort in the fact that we weren’t alone.”
A NEW FRIEND TO HELP THE FAMILY
Connor’s Heroes program team built a special bond with Evie’s family. Erin and Anne-Randolph surprised them with gift cards, family fun packs in the mail, and thoughtfulness in every email, phone call, and visit.
“Erin is a beautiful human being. I thank God for allowing our paths to cross even if it took cancer to get us here.
From the very first phone call, she gave me hope and comfort in the fact that we weren’t alone in this. She calls multiple times a month and every time it is like I’m talking to a friend I’ve had for years. She reassures me that I’m doing everything I can for all the kiddos and reminds me to breathe.
I believe it’s more of who she is, versus the “job,” so to speak.“
A new year is a new unknown for Evie.
A new diagnosis for another child.
A new family who will need Connor’s Heroes.
Make your donation so a family will never face their child’s cancer alone. You can make sure the next hero family receives financial assistance when they need it the most, and emotional support through every personal note, email, phone call, and visit. As the world looks for hope, guidance, and support, our childhood cancer families don’t have to look far. Hope, guidance, and support are the pillars of Connor’s Heroes mission.
Thank you to Danielle for writing about her family and Connor’s Heroes. All pictures are from Danielle’s page on Facebook: Evie’s Endeavor.
November Heroes Art Session
As the year winds down and the holidays gear up, Connor’s Heroes is grateful to our donors whose donations allow us to safely gather with our hero families for the monthly Heroes Art Sessions.
At the November Heroes Art Session, the kids used a variety of mediums to create art of all styles that visualize iconic landmarks around Richmond.
The kids were really excited when Sarah broke out a big block of clay. She showed the kids how to cut, sculpt, and decorate the clay into different holiday shapes. Stay tuned to see the results after Sarah fires up all their clay creations in a kiln. (Having access to a kiln is one of the many perks we receive thanks to our partnership with The Visual Arts Center of Richmond.)
Our Heroes Art Sessions provide a supportive environment in which childhood cancer heroes and their siblings can make art, and build community with other hero families. At the sessions, they feel a collective sense of healing simply by creating and being together. We are grateful to The Visual Arts Center of Richmond for giving us the space for an open studio. And to our donors who allow the Heroes Art Sessions to happen at no cost to our families.
Childhood Cancer Heroes: Everett, Joshua, Ariana, Lucy, Valentin, Zuri, Kennedy
Hero Artist Leaders & Volunteers: Emilia Texler, Nancy LeBlanc, Emily Griffin, Katelyn Griffin, Anna, Wilkinson, Patricia Burchett, Sarah Cross
If you are interested in sharing your talents by volunteering as a hero artist leader, fill out our online volunteer application posted on our website: www.connorsheroes.org/ways-to-give/
If you can not volunteer your time, you can support the monthly heroes art sessions and other programs offered to childhood cancer heroes by making a donation online: www.connorsheroes.org/ways-to-give/
You will meet some of the childhood cancer heroes shown here. They will be our guests of honor at the 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball in May 2022!
Gift Hope & Give Hope
With the holiday season gearing up, today is a great day to embrace giving. Currently 100 childhood cancer heroes are in active treatment. Moms, dads and grandparents juggle the emotional challenges and financial toll of cancer while trying to celebrate the magic of the holidays. They look to Connor’s Heroes community of heroes for hope, guidance, and support.
This season, pledge to make your holiday gifts more meaningful by giving a childhood cancer family the hope they need during a difficult time.
Remember, Connor’s Heroes makes it easy for you to make a donation in honor of someone who cares about helping children.
#1 Give A $250 Gift Card
#2 Order a Toy, Game or Craft from our Hero Holiday Wish List
#3 Donate To The Holiday Hero Fund
Photos from 2019 and 2020 Holiday Open Houses
Our 2021 Holiday Open House is made possible thanks to the generosity of Cathy Heizer, her family and friends. They kick started the campaign with gifts made in memory of her husband, Paul “Opie.” Opie passed away this year after battling pancreatic cancer. Opie devoted his life to supporting child-focused nonprofits such as Connor’s Heroes and HELP Charities. Opie wanted to make sure children with cancer received love, strength, and support. We are honored to have Cathy serving on our Board of Directors. Cathy said
“I am the grandmother of five wonderful grandchildren ages 6 through 12. It is our family tradition that at Christmas time, the grandchildren and I donate to a nonprofit like The Angel Tree, for example. Ever since I joined Conner’s Heroes Board of Directors I wondered how my family could help their brave hero families. Being a Holiday Hero is perfect. My family is donating in memory of my husband who loved — and I do mean loved! — Christmas. I know Opie would want us to carry on his excitement for Christmas. I can’t think of a better way than to give holiday cheer to area families by giving to Connor’s Heroes.”
Today's Helping Hero: Andrew Getchell with Page Auto Group
Andrew is the father to childhood cancer hero Luke who sadly passed away in 2019 after battling leukemia. Andrew never forgot the ways Connor’s Heroes helped him and his son. For the past few years, during September Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Andrew’s friends, family, and his employer, Page Auto Group, held a fundraiser for Connor’s Heroes. This year, they raised more than $5,000. This donation will do a tremendous amount of good for the 100 plus children in active treatment right now.
“My son, Luke, battled leukemia from July 2018 to Oct 2019. Connor’s Heroes was there during our four-plus months of hospital stays and countless clinic visits. They encouraged and supported Luke and us. I am forever grateful to them for their kindness, generosity, and their love for Luke. It is in Luke’s memory that I raised money for this worthwhile nonprofit organization.”
Thank you Andrew and for honoring the memory of your son through your generosity to other childhood cancer heroes.
Peek Inside The Wonder Tower
"When we made it to the 12th floor a spectacular view of the city greeted us. It took my breath away."
— Celia Tetlow Martin, Executive Director, Connor’s Heroes
Celia had a sneak peek into the Wonder Tower, the new inpatient children’s hospital, under construction downtown. Set to open in Spring 2023, the integrated children’s hospital will be the state-of-the-art facility our families need and dream of. Touring the site with Celia was Laura Markley (Connor’s Heroes Board Chair), Zach Isbell (Connor’s Heroes Board Member) and Marshall Lynch (mom to childhood cancer hero, Eleanor, and donor). Elias Neujhar (President of Children’s Hospital of Richmond) and Lauren Moore (President and CEO of Children’s Hospital Foundation) shared how The Wonder Tower will transform the care of children way beyond Richmond.
Zach is a VP at JLL, the company overseeing the project and gave everyone an insider’s view of the Wonder Tower:
“Being a part of the team delivering the new Children’s Hospital has been the opportunity of a lifetime. I see first hand the dedication and passion the team at Children’s Hospital has for crafting the spaces where they’ll deliver life-changing care for so many children. As a supporter and Board member at Connor’s Heroes I couldn’t help but think of how these spaces would allow our programs to grow and bring even more support to our families.”
Zach proudly showed where Connor’s Heroes five Rooms Filled With Hope will be on the hematology/oncology floor. Each room will help a hero family along their child’s cancer journey — starting with their child’s diagnosis, through treatment, and beyond.
“Showing Celia and my other Board members what these spaces will look like and how our hero families will access them has been one of the highlights of the project. It’s not every day I blend personal and professional passions. I couldn’t be more excited to share these spaces with everyone when they open in 2023.”
Zach’s excitement for the project carried over to Celia:
“When we made it to the 12th floor, a spectacular view of the city greeted us. It took my breath away. That’s when it hit me. Connor’s Heroes has been caring for childhood cancer families for 15 years. We were looking out to what is before us: a future full of unlimited possibilities.“
Back on the ground floor, Laura said:
“It was a thrill to see the dream coming to life under construction! Connor’s Heroes Rooms Filled With Hope will bring daily moments of hope to our heroes, as well as support and encouragement to staff and caregivers. This is a momentous and humbling opportunity for Connor’s Heroes to work alongside CHoR in reshaping and improving the experience our heroes, their families, and their medical caregivers have as they journey through childhood cancer.”
Thanks to the generosity of people like you, Connor’s Heroes is so close to hitting the goal of raising $250,000 to open the Rooms Filled With Hope. When you give to our campaign, you can help reach the final $25,000 needed to open these doors. Find out the wonderful things you can make happen when you give to our Rooms Filled With Hope Campaign: www.connorsheroes.org/rooms-filled-with-hope/
Burger Bach Gives Bach
Burger Bach (select locations) Give Bach
Burger Of The Month
DATES: October 1 – 31, 2021
LOCATIONS: Select locations
Durham: 737 9th St Durham, NC
Midlothian: 101 Heaths Way Road, Midlothian, VA
Short Pump: 2225 Old Brick Rd, Glen Allen, VA
Charlottesville: 2050 Bond Street, Charlottesville, VA
EVENT DETAILS: Burger Bach crafted a delicious burger this month. The Reuben is made with NZ Beef, bacon, spicy brown, original sauce and sauerkraut all dressed up on a pretzel bun. For each burger of the month sold, Burger Bach will donate $1 to Connor’s Heroes.
October Heroes Art Session
“We love cookies and pumpkins!” said a hero parent when he registered his two kids for the October Heroes Art Session.
The October Heroes Art Session was our largest art session this year. Our families and hero artists took over the Visual Arts Center’s beautiful courtyard. Our childhood cancer heroes created colorful freestyle art projects and worked on several paintings with our hero artists. Here was all the fall fun we packed in one afternoon session:
Cookie Decorating
Holland Baking Company, baked up giant cookies in the shape of halloween skeletons. The kids decorated their cookies with edible paint turning them into edible works of art. Catherine bakes the best sugar cookies and her decorating kits are a family favorite.
Pumpkin Painting
Connor’s Heroes newest board member, Karrie, helped the kids paint pint-sized pumpkins for Halloween. Volunteering for the first time with Connor’s Heroes was her daughter, Keagan. (Pictured Karrie with childhood cancer hero, Charlotte.)
Jewelry Making
Liana was so proud of the earring she made, she immediately put them in her ears! Thank you Katie Benson for bringing all sorts of beads and jewels to make this fun activity such a hit.
Leaf Pressing
Dale, a hero artist, brought a collection of fall leaves. The kids painted a leaf and pressed it to make colorful prints.
Stainglass Painting
Jennike came prepared with paints, tissue paper, and clear sheets of transparency. Jennike sketched out a design with thick black edges. The kids filled up the design using tissue paper and paints. What they created resemble the bright colors of a beautiful stained glass windows. Pictured is Jennike helping childhood cancer hero Lucy.
Richmond Skyline
Nancy Jacey is a hero artist who has created art with our hero families for several years. She had the concept of a painting of Richmond’s iconic bridges and skyline. But she wasn’t going to do it herself. She had our heroes paint their artist interpretation of a segment of the image like a bridge trellis or river rock. Nancy will assemble the children’s paintings to make up the Richmond skyline. Be on the lookout for this masterpiece at the 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball in May 2022!
Light Box
Katie Benson’s project is so big, she needed two people to carry it into the courtyard. Her husband framed a clear sheet in a wooden box. A kid painted with their favorite colors. Some of the children made handprints. When it is all done, the box will illuminate the kids’ favorite colors into an expression of hope.
Our Heroes Art Sessions provide a supportive environment in which childhood cancer heroes and their siblings can make art and build community with other hero families. At the sessions, you feel a collective sense of healing by creating and being together. We are grateful to Visual Arts Center for giving us the space for an open studio. And to our donors who allow the Heroes Art Sessions to happen at no cost to our families.
Childhood Cancer Heroes: Zuri, James, Holden, Alvion, Sydney, Lucy, Gabby, Becca, Josie, Callen, Liana, Kennedy, Anna, Florian, Charlotte.
Hero Artist Leaders & Volunteers: Dale, Olivia, Keagan, Karrie, Hanan, Nancy, Ella, Katie, Izzy, Jennike, Sarah, Taylor, Kristie and Jodi.
Celebrating Our Progress
We spent a beautiful evening on the rooftop of Quirk Hotel. It was the perfect venue because it overlooked the city with a bird’s eye view of the main attraction: the construction of the new inpatient children’s hospital. When the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU opens the Wonder Tower in 2023, childhood cancer families will have an integrated hematology and oncology floor they have been dreaming of.
Connor’s Heroes can open five permanent spaces designed with our childhood cancer heroes, their families, healthcare teams, and researchers in mind. We need our community of heroes to open five Rooms Filled With Hope!
At the rooftop reception, Celia shared the exciting progress of the hospital’s construction and our Rooms Filled With Hope campaign. Generous donors already have contributed $215,000 to our ambitious goal of $250,000. You are so close to fully funding the Connor’s Heroes rooms coming to the the Wonder Tower!
We were honored to have Keondra and her son Jonathan as our guests at the reception. Jonathan is one of the 100 children who are in active treatment right now. Keondra shared how Connor’s Heroes helps her family, especially for the many trips to New York City for Jonathan’s treatment in a clinical trial.
Barbara, Fred and Frances Hess also were at the reception. The Jamie Hess Bone Marrow Transplant Lab will be named after their son Jamie who died from leukemia in 2002. Laura Markley, Connor’s Heroes Board Chair, introduced and thanked our amazing board members. Our corporate donors (AT&T, Kaplan Voekler Cunningham & Frank PLC, and Riverfront Investment Group) enjoyed meeting the people who also contributed to the campaign.
Celia reminded everyone of the wonderful future they are building for Connor’s Heroes. Not only when the Wonder Tower opens, but every day.
