Lifting Up Landon
Landon was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma in February. Like most families, they set up a Facebook page. They call it “Lifting Up Landon.” Close to 3,000 people follow this brave boy. Landon has a strong network that his parents lean on. So, how could Connor’s Heroes help?
We understand the challenges and sensitivity of childhood cancer - especially when a family is in the hospital or clinic. Children love the Heroes Backpack because it's filled with toys, playdough, electronics that they can play with on their hospital beds. Our Parent Tote has a thermometer, journals, thank you cards and vouchers for meals and housecleaning – all items recommended by the parents who’ve had a child in treatment. The Bone Marrow Transplant Unit can be very isolating to our families. Our Room Of Possibilities is their family playroom with Wii, board games, books and videos. We know the names of the restaurants and food trucks on campus. Know one of the biggest stresses on a family? Driving around the MCV parking deck and not having cash to pay for parking. We figured out how to purchase parking passes for families.
All these details make a difference to our families.
Since Landon registered with Connor’s Heroes in March, we reached out to his family thirty times. That’s a month full of caring! It had been a quick call. An email. A visit in clinic. “How’s Landon doing?” “How can Connor’s Heroes help?” Volunteers surprised him by decorating his hospital room with Mario and Minions for his admission to the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. His Day Zero was a milestone. A $25 or $50 gift card for groceries and gas meant the family had money for other expenses. And, most appreciated, weeks’ worth of parking passes!
Landon is in the maintenance stage of his treatment. The posts on his Facebook page are positive. I’m happy his mom and dad took the time to register with Connor’s Heroes. I am thankful for the opportunity to take my family and other parents' experience so we can pay it forward to help the children who are battling cancer in Richmond today. Thank you for supporting Connor’s Heroes. Happy Thanksgiving.
Photos of Ultimate 80s Bash!
Our first Ultimate 80s Bash was totally awesome! Thank you to Celia, Courtney and all the Young Professionals who threw a great party. If you attended, you helped raise money for the children in treatment at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU who look to Connor's Heroes for help. A big thank you to Northwestern Mutual, our event sponsor, and the CHF Board members and parents who joined the fun. The committee will meet in January to plan the next event!
Shopping Day to help our Teen Heroes!
Make Nov 19 an evening to shop at South Moon Under in Short Pump from 5 - 9 p.m. They are donating portions of your sales back to Connor's Heroes. They also are collecting needed supplies for the teenagers in treatment for childhood cancer. We're thinking of our brave teens in treatment: D'Marco, Caleb and Rachel. You'll find all the details on South Moon Under's event facebook page. You can mark as going or interested so you don't forget about this special offer. Join us!
Our Heroes Love The ‘80s!
We are so proud of Campbell and how she's come to represent the hundreds of children who are being treated for cancer in Richmond. Campbell was diagnosed with Leukemia (ALL Ph+) in 2012. She is officially a cancer survivor though the side effects of treatment do take their toll. She is a big part of the Connor's Heroes family and an inspiration to many of our newest Heroes. She's smiling because she's excited about the upcoming ULTIMATE 80's BASH, November 21, at the Science Museum of Virginia. This is a new fundraising gala for Connor's Heroes. It is hosted by our Young Professional committee and sponsored by Northwestern Mutual. It will be a fun-filled night celebrating the 80's. Your $80 ticket gets you open bar, food and music from the premier 80's tribute band, The Breakfast Club. VIP tickets allow access to a VIP bar, signature cocktails and a bag of 80's swag. Proceeds from the night will raise the money Connor's Heroes needs to help the children registered with our programs. Are you ready for the 80's to come back!
Celebrity Golf Tournament
Thank you to the participants and volunteers who made the Jim Coates Celebrity Golf Tournament a success. We believe it will become an annual fund raising event. Big thanks to The Harmon family. Connor's Heroes is helping their 10-month-old son who is in treatment for a rare form of eye cancer. The proceeds will fund our programs and allow us to offer personalized support for The Harmons and other families in treatment right now. If you have a fund raising event that you want to partner with children battling cancer, contact our Director of Development, Tom, at (804) 897-1272 or tom@connorsheroes.org.
Jim Coates Golf Teams
Thank you to everyone who formed a team for the Jim Coates Celebrity Golf Tourament. Proceeds from the team registration directly benefitted the programs offered by Connor's Heroes to the hundreds of children who are in treatment for childhood cancer this year. One family is the Harmon Family who's 10-month-old son is battling a rare eye cancer. The family is travelling between Richmond and Philadelphia for treatment.
CHF receives grant from Altria
What an honor for Connor's Heroes to receive $25,000 in a grant from Altria Companies' Employee Community Fund (ACECF). ACECF awarded $2.5 million in grants this year to 91 organizations in Virginia. More and more of you are recommending Connor's Heroes as a non-profit worthy of your company's charitable giving. From Capital One stuffing backpacks for the teens in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit... BB&T employees taking our Hero families to a baseball game... Northwestern Mutual giving a grant to fund our Helping Heroes and Superheroes and Backpack programs. Your talents, treasures or financial gifts will make a difference in the life of a child battling cancer. If you'd like to learn more, contact Tom at (804) 897-1272 or tom@connorsheroes.org. He'd be glad to meet with you and tell you more about our 10 years of helping families in Central Virginia.
Guest Blogger: Brooke, co-chair of The Heroes Art Ball
The Heroes Art Ball is Connor's Heroes signature fund raising event. It raises more than 25% of the money we use to reach out to the children who are in treatment for childhood cancer with our Heroes Bags and Backpacks, Helping Heroes and room decorations. Last year, it reached the important milestone of netting more than $100,000. Its success is due to a dedicated committee of volunteers. Brooke shares why she volunteers behind the scenes for our hero families, even when she was thousands of miles away.
After graduating college, I felt a void in my volunteer obligations to the community. I was determined to find a way to connect my two passions, children and cancer research. A quick google search led me to Connor’s Heroes Foundation, where I have been an active volunteer for almost five years. I started helping with the Heroes Art Ball in 2012, and have participated on the planning committee for four years. This past year, I served as the event Co-Chair. I made wonderful friends through the process and I love giving my time to Connor's Heroes - an organization who is making a difference in the lives of children battling cancer.
My commitment to Connor's Heroes and the families we support can be shown by this example. In 2013, my husband and I set out on an adventure to Idaho, thankfully for just a year. I made him promise me that I could fly back to Virginia in May for The Heroes Art Ball. Not only that, but while in Idaho, I became determined to stay connected to my Connor’s Heroes “family” regardless of the 2,400 miles between us. Believe it or not, I assisted the Silent Auction Committee with gathering donations for the 2014 Heroes Art Ball. I was so happy to come back to the event that started my involvement with Connor’s Heroes. When each young Hero proudly walked across the stage carrying his/her masterpiece, and when the auctioneer shouted “Sold” to the highest bidder, the look the child's face is priceless. The dedication, hard work, and countless hours that the volunteers of Connor’s Heroes put into making the Heroes Art Ball a success is worth it for moments like that!
Connor’s Heroes welcomed me as a volunteer five years ago, helped me find a way to make a difference, and truly values my involvement. I can’t think of any organization I’d rather be involved with and I can’t wait to continue my efforts as Co-Chair for The Heroes Art Ball 2016, which will kick off Connor’s Heroes’ 10th anniversary!
The Heroes Art Ball isn't the only fund raising gala benefitting Connor's Heroes. On November 21, at the Science Museum of Virginia, area young professionals will celebrate The Ultimate 80s Bash. A night of live music from The Breakfast Club, open bar and dinner. Proceeds benefit Connor's Heroes. The invitation links you to all the details and tickets.
Transforming a hospital room into a home
This month, we already have four children scheduled at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU for their bone marrow transplants. Two are teens who have put high school on hold and the others are younger children. Connor's Heroes is one of a few nonprofits who are allowed to be in the Bone Marrow Unit with cancer's youngest patients. Our first task is organizing teams of volunteers who will decorate the hospital rooms of each child. When a child registers with Connor's Heroes, the parents/caregivers list his/her favorite movies, cartoons, colors and crafts. On the day of admission, we surprised them with a room that's been transformed into a comfy bedroom with decorations, bedding and decor. Here are photos of the rooms we’ve decorated over the past several. As you see, each one is different. Just like our patients. Erin will be in the hospital all this week, helping the families adjust. Keep them in your thoughts.
Rooting for Thomas
We've found a community of heroes from across the country thanks to David and his team at Capital One. David was moved by the Goodwin Family's story and their determination to help every child who is in treatment here in Richmond. One of those children is Thomas, an 11-year-old boy. Thomas was a hero at a Heroes Art Ball after he was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer of the muscles and connective tissues in 2012. In September 2015, he learned the heart-breaking news that his cancer has returned - for a third time! He is back in treatment for his biggest fight yet. Connor's Heroes is there once again. Knowing Thomas is a fan of the Seattle Seahawks, Capital One employees from offices across the country got him a bag full of Seahawks merchandise, gift cards, and tickets to see them play the Baltimore Ravens in Decemeber - the day after his 12th birthday! Connor's Heroes worked with Capital One in getting it all to Thomas. It's a moment of great happiness for a wonderful boy.