RH
12-15-2003, 08:15 AM
Let me tell you about the best folks on the planet!
This past Saturday, our Riders Club rode over to the Boggy Creek Gang Camp to present a $2,000.00 check to their Board of Directors. Our Club had taken the organization on as a year-long fund raising project even though most of us had no idea just how wonderful this organization is. They had invited us to attend the annual Christmas Party held for all the kids that attend the camp each year. For those that haven't heard of them, they are a member of Paul Newman's "Hole in the Wall Gang". They provide camp experience for children that have life threatening illnesses, with each illness having it's own week. There is no charge to the families for this 5,6, or 7-day event. The facility we visited at Boggy Creek Camp has a full medical facility where children with all types of illnesses can be together to experience the joy of swimming, movies, arts and crafts, and all sorts of other activities.
One of the Directors, Terry Knox, gave us the grand tour of the facility - starting with the huge swimming pool where children enjoy themselves with the aid of floating wheelchairs, floating ventilators, and other help aids. They even have an ultra-violet warming building for children with sickle cell anemia. Terry explained how the camp operated, how children were selected to attend the camp, and how they operated on a $3.1M budget each year. They receive no federal funds, I believe, but rely on the generousity of corporations, businesses, and folks like you and me.
When we first planned this trip, most of us knew that it was going to be hard to see those kids and we thought we were prepared. In reality, what we saw were a hundred or so happy kids, enjoying the games and music and comraderie of others. It was so heartwarming to think that we'd helped in some small way to make life better for these kids!
For me, the thing that hit me the hardest and had me choking back tears was the staff of the Camp. Their love and dedication to these kids can't be expressed in mere words. We talked to volunteers that had been with the camp since it had been started eight years ago and everyone we saw and talked to radiated a glow of love towards their mission and these kids. It was very humbling, especially when we think of how much time each week we waste - and here are folks giving everything they have for little or no pay just to make a child's life better!
What was especially touching was that every one of the Riders Club members that attended that tour approached LD and told him we had to continue supporting this organization - that from then on it wouldn't be loose change they'd be throwing in the collection cannisters. It does my heart good to be a part of such a great group!
If any of you ever need a place to throw some extra bucks, please remember the Boggy Creek Gang Camp. They are more than worthy of our prayers, our support, and our money!
In the words of Tiny Tim - God Bless Us Every One!
Y'all have a great Holiday!!
RH and LD
This past Saturday, our Riders Club rode over to the Boggy Creek Gang Camp to present a $2,000.00 check to their Board of Directors. Our Club had taken the organization on as a year-long fund raising project even though most of us had no idea just how wonderful this organization is. They had invited us to attend the annual Christmas Party held for all the kids that attend the camp each year. For those that haven't heard of them, they are a member of Paul Newman's "Hole in the Wall Gang". They provide camp experience for children that have life threatening illnesses, with each illness having it's own week. There is no charge to the families for this 5,6, or 7-day event. The facility we visited at Boggy Creek Camp has a full medical facility where children with all types of illnesses can be together to experience the joy of swimming, movies, arts and crafts, and all sorts of other activities.
One of the Directors, Terry Knox, gave us the grand tour of the facility - starting with the huge swimming pool where children enjoy themselves with the aid of floating wheelchairs, floating ventilators, and other help aids. They even have an ultra-violet warming building for children with sickle cell anemia. Terry explained how the camp operated, how children were selected to attend the camp, and how they operated on a $3.1M budget each year. They receive no federal funds, I believe, but rely on the generousity of corporations, businesses, and folks like you and me.
When we first planned this trip, most of us knew that it was going to be hard to see those kids and we thought we were prepared. In reality, what we saw were a hundred or so happy kids, enjoying the games and music and comraderie of others. It was so heartwarming to think that we'd helped in some small way to make life better for these kids!
For me, the thing that hit me the hardest and had me choking back tears was the staff of the Camp. Their love and dedication to these kids can't be expressed in mere words. We talked to volunteers that had been with the camp since it had been started eight years ago and everyone we saw and talked to radiated a glow of love towards their mission and these kids. It was very humbling, especially when we think of how much time each week we waste - and here are folks giving everything they have for little or no pay just to make a child's life better!
What was especially touching was that every one of the Riders Club members that attended that tour approached LD and told him we had to continue supporting this organization - that from then on it wouldn't be loose change they'd be throwing in the collection cannisters. It does my heart good to be a part of such a great group!
If any of you ever need a place to throw some extra bucks, please remember the Boggy Creek Gang Camp. They are more than worthy of our prayers, our support, and our money!
In the words of Tiny Tim - God Bless Us Every One!
Y'all have a great Holiday!!
RH and LD