“Oh my goodness! Look!!! Over there… it’s a rainbow!!”
CHILDHOOD CANCER HEROES & A RAINBOW
We couldn’t believe it. After an unexpected downpour — a beautiful rainbow graced the sky over our tent at Hardywood. Our Annual Summer Send Off was blessed with colors painted by Mother Nature herself.
A REUNION OF HERO FAMILIES
The Summer Send Off is our biggest family event of the summer. We invited all our childhood hero families. Heroes in treatment, ones who “rang the bell” to shout out they finished, the children who are on the road to survivorship, or who already made it there. It was a reunion of lives touched by Connor’s Heroes (and you).
Most of the families know each other in passing — passing one another in the waiting room in clinic, waving “Hi” in the hallway of the hospital. At the Summer Send Off, they can sit, relax, and socialize with heroes who understand what is like to raise a family when your child has cancer. Connor’s Heroes arranged all the fun yard games (check out our Connor’s Heroes corn hole boards!), craft tables, drinks from Hardywood, a delicious spread of BBQ from The Salty Pig and sweet treats from Gelati Celesti and King of Pops.
Jonathan The Juggler’s juggling and magic show was, as always, highly entertaining. He didn’t hold back. He juggled bowling balls, bowling pins, hoops, and flaming sticks of fire. He stopped the show with the magical appearance of his cuddly bunny.
We welcomed Richmond artist Theodora Miller. Theodora Miller is a recent addition to our growing roster of Artist Mentors. At the Summer Send Off, she set up her art studio at Hardywood. Kids, parents, staff and board members painted their names on a giant wood panel. Soon Theodora will add her signature brush style over top. Theodora will prepare the painting for its forever home — on the 12th floor of CHoR and Connor’s Heroes Rooms Filled With Hope.
Thank you to our amazing volunteers from ARCO Design/Build. ARCO’s Vice President, Quinlan Mulholland, and his team spent the afternoon out of the office making crafts with the kids, playing Jenga and Connect Four, and meeting the families they have generously supported over the years.
Connor’s Heroes hosts a big event like the Summer Send Off thanks to your generous donations. We offer these events free of charge to patients, parents, caregivers, and siblings. Thank you for giving our families a playful, wonderful evening together. Topped off with a beautiful rainbow.
If you work for a company or service organization who likes to give back, Connor’s Heroes has opportunities for short-term volunteering or a day of service. Email Anne-Randolph Carter at anne-randolph@connorsheroes.org for information. Or visit our online volunteer portal: https://www.connorsheroes.org/ways-to-give/
