Tuesday at Camp Heart Connection

While it was a little chilly and a little muddy at Camp today, we finally avoided the rain! All of the Camp activities were open and campers had a lot to do today.

The highlight of the day was in the afternoon when the ambulance drove to Camp from Blank Children's Hospital and the lifeflight helicopter flew into Camp and landed in the field. After both the ambulance and the helicopter arrived, campers were allowed to go inside both of the different modes of transportation (keeping with this week's travel theme - 'All Aboard!') to check things out. The campers loved talking to the medical professionals that came to visit and they asked a lot of questions.

After a delicious dinner, which consisted of BBQ'd chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, rolls and brownies, a few different activities opened up for the cabins. The crew from the Big Wheel Rally came up to Camp and brought a few of their custom big wheels for a big wheel race. There was a wild game of Capture the Flag on the field - campers vs. counselors, of course - which lasted for a few hours. Arts and Crafts opened up for a special night craft and a few of the younger cabins got to enjoy s'mores around the campfire!

Later this evening campers have the option of "camping out" in Pioneer Hall where the Disney movie "Cars" will be played. After the movie it's lights out so we can all get enough sleep for Wednesday!

Thanks for stopping by! Here are a few photos from the day:

Big Wheel Rally: Make A Difference

Getting dressed up in costume and riding a big wheel down the street in the prime of winter may sound outrageous, but it’s one of those things you just have to experience for yourself.

The Big Wheel Rally is a bar crawl and opportunity for adults to express their creativity together by creating costumes and unique big wheels to ride between locations on Ingersoll Ave.


The Big Wheel Rally has supported Children’s Cancer Connection for nine years and continues to increase support dollars every year. “The first year supporting Children’s Cancer Connection in 2002, we raised about $1,300,” Austin Gill, an organizer of the event said. “This year our goal is $20,000.”

This year’s event will take place on December 11 at 11 a.m. will start at Zimm’s Food & Spirits and continue on to GT, Yacht Club, and Carl’s Place. Costumes and big wheels are optional but always encouraged.

Austin Gill decided to get involved in Big Wheel Rally because his mother was diagnosed with cancer around the same time. “After seeing what my mom and our family went through, I couldn’t imagine having to deal with all of that as a kid,” he said.

Molly Gill also helps organize the event as a way to help families of children affected by cancer. “A good friend of mine lost her brother to cancer when we were in high school,” she said. “That made me first aware of the need to help both kids with cancer and their siblings.”

Get together a few friends and come see the fun that’s had at Big Wheel Rally. Long-sleeved t-shirts can be ordered online from http://www.bikeiowa.com/ for just $25 before December 5. Donations can also be made at this site.