“For a few precious hours, we weren’t thinking about hospital visits or hard days. We were just a family, together, smiling, soaking in the beauty of the season. These moments are more than just outings. They’re reminders that joy still finds us. That healing can happen in the quiet glow of twinkling lights.”
— Hailee, Lawson’s Mom after her family saw the holiday lights at Lewis Ginter’s Gardenfest Of Lights thanks to the Holiday Hero Fund
Holly Jolly Good Time
Every holiday season, our community comes together to bring joy, comfort, and a little magic to childhood cancer hero families across Central Virginia. Your donations to the Holiday Hero Fund gave families memories they’ll treasure long after the holiday ends. Here’s a peek at the joy you made possible for more than hundreds of childhood cancer hero families:
Turkey Trot
Hero families enjoyed catered Thanksgiving meals cooked to perfection by the talented teams at Brambly Park and Wegmans. Volunteers delivered the meals with big smiles and full hearts, making sure every family felt cared for heading into the holiday weekend.
Winter Wonderland
This year’s Holiday Open House was warm, sparkly, and full of happy chaos. (Isn’t that always the best kind?) Our friends at CelebrateRVA welcomed us back into their joyful space. With the help of our crew of volunteer “elves,” they transformed the space into a cozy Winter Wonderland.
Kids made crafts, created gingerbread houses, and warmed up with hot cocoa. Even Santa spent the day with us bringing huge smiles and adorable photo moments.
Thanks to your generosity, every child left with gifts from their wish list, and each caregiver received a $250 Visa gift card to help with holiday expenses. Many parents were moved to tears by this kindness.
Be sure to scroll through our photo album that captured many of the special holiday moments!
Holiday Magic Under The Lights
The season wouldn’t feel complete without a seeing all the holiday lights. Because of your support, families received tickets to the Dominion GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.
This night out gave families a chance to step away from the routines of treatment and enjoy a peaceful night under the millions of twinkling lights on display at Lewis Ginter. Each family got to pick the night that worked best for them, another example on how Connor’s Heroes makes things personal.
“Even in the midst of struggle, there are people like Connor’s Heroes who show up and say, “You deserve this.” I’ll never take these memories for granted.” — Hailee, Lawson’s Mom
A Night At The Ballet
Hero families attended Richmond Ballet’s iconic Nutcracker performance. For many families, it was their very first ballet. A memory they could share thanks to the generosity of our Holiday donors and The Ballet for All program.
Our Community Of Holiday Heroes
The holidays can be especially tough for families balancing emotional stress, financial strain, and the demands of treatment. The Holiday Hero Fund provided each family in active treatment a $250 VISA gift card, presents from their holiday wish lists, and a wonderful Holiday Open House. All families were offered tickets to Lewis Ginter GardenFest of Lights and tickets to the Nutcracker.
The Holiday Heroes Fund was fully funded thanks to our community of heroes, especially The Heizer Family, The Fergerson Family, participants in The Opie Open Golf Tournament, The Kanaka Foundation, Brambly Park, Cruising For Cancer, Celebrate RVA, Richmond Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Richmond Ballet For All, and The Richmond Christmas Mother Fund. Thank you to these individuals who made up our 2025 Holiday Hero Fund Donors:
Mr. Ernie Burnett • Mr. James Flint • Ms. Samantha Landolt • Mr. and Mrs. Mark Lenassi • Mr. Michael Mailey • Mr. and Mrs. Keith Wark • Mr. and Mrs. Dale White • Ms. Elizabeth Wykle
Holiday Hero Volunteers:
Margo Asay • Suzanne Carley • Becca Chamberlain • Elise Dransfield • Cathy Heizer • GT Hollett • Cecelia Marano • John Porter • Richmond Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics • Bruce & Crystal Tetlow • Jovany Vigil • Elise Dransfield • Madelynn Gagnon • Steven Guo • Cecelia Marano • Wanda Martin • Paul Sarver • Jovany Vigil • Bill Wilkinson • Elise Dransfield • Wanda Martin • Jack Asay • Victoria Dale • Steven Guo • Linda Harris • Rebecca Lint • Katie Macri • Cecelia Marano • Paul Sarver • Marian Stryker • Bruce Tetlow • Jovany Vigil • Kevin Wright
