Meet the Staff Series: Health Team

(From left to right): Mary Schlapkohl, Carolyn Bygness, and Mary DeValois at Oncology Camp 2011.

Last week we introduced you to the 5-8 year old Oncology Camp counselors. This week meet the Health Team! These medical professionals make sure everyone can enjoy their week at camp by providing any medical attention that may be needed.

•  Carolyn Bygness is returning to Camp Heart Connection Oncology Camp in 2012 for the 27^th week!
•  Laura Cady will spend her third summer at Camp Heart Connection this year.
• Mary DeValois is serving as a member of the Health Team for the fifth summer.
•  Dr. Natalie Kamberos is joining Camp Heart Connection Oncology Camp for the fourth summer.
• Mary Schlapkohl will serve as the Health Director for Oncology Camp 2012. This will be Mary’s 18^th year at Camp Heart Connection.
•  Dr. Wendy Woods-Swafford is returning to Camp Heart Connection Oncology Camp for the fourth summer.
• Dr. Carla Schwalm will returning to Camp Heart Connection Oncology Camp this summer.

Health Team, feel free to add more information about yourselves below or share a note with campers and their families! Next week’s Meet the Staff Series will introduce the Oncology 9-12 year old counselors.

Meet the Staff Series: 5-8 Old Counselors

We are getting in gear for Camp Heart Connection 2012! The theme has been selected, “Camp is the Silver Lining” in honor of our 25^th anniversary, applications are posted online, and camp staff has been selected. Now until Oncology Camp, we will introduce you to the members of the 2012 camp staff team that make camp a week to remember. The Meet the Staff Series will start again before Sibling Camp.

This week we introduce you to the 5-8 year old counselors. These staff members lead our youngest campers and help ease many into their first week at camp.

• Tyler Adams will spend his third week at Camp Heart Connection this summer. Tyler is a student at the University of Northern Iowa.
•  Gracie Eggland is returning for her fourth week of Oncology Camp.
• Alyssa Falos will return to Camp Heart Connection for her third week of Oncology Camp this summer.
•  Leah Fenchel is a veteran member of the Camp Heart Connection Staff Team. Leah will spend her 15^th week at camp this summer.
• Anthony Gilormini is a student at Riverland Community College. 2012 will be Anthony’s fifth week at Camp Heart Connection.
• Caleb Grulke is a first year staff member. Caleb is a student at Drake University.
• Hannah Johnson will spend her third week at Oncology Camp this summer.
• Chris Juhl is returning for his second week at Oncology Camp.
•  Erin Martin is joining the Camp Heart Connection Oncology Staff Team for the third time this summer. Erin is a student at the University of Iowa.
•  Jason McManus will be a counselor at Oncology Camp for the third week in 2012. Jason attends St. Ambrose University.
• Alison Myers is one of the most experienced counselors on the staff team this year. Alison will spend her 21^st week at Camp Heart Connection this summer.
• Kylie O’Connor will serve as a counselor for the second summer this year. Kylie is a student at Allen College.
• Megan Penticoff has experience as both an Oncology and Sibling Staff Member. Megan will spend her 3^rd week at Camp Heart Connection this summer. Megan is a student at the University of Iowa.
• Sara Petersen is a student at Iowa City West High School. She will have her fourth summer at Oncology Camp in 2012.
• Sam Short will spend her fourth week at Camp Heart Connection as an Oncology Counselor. Sam is a student at DMACC.
• Amber Tilley is a student at Grandview University. Amber will join the Camp Heart Connection Staff Team for the fourth time this summer.
• Jamie Habenicht will join the Camp Heart Connection team for the 5th summer.
•  Karla Weinschenk will spend her first week at Camp Heart Connection this summer.

Counselors feel free to add more information about yourselves below or share a note with your campers and their families! Next week’s Meet the Staff Series will introduce the Oncology Medical Team.

CH2M HILL Charity Golf Tournament

CH2M HILL is a global engineering company, with an office of about 15 staff in West Des Moines. CH2M HILL is committed to partnering with the community and charitable outreach. They began a formal Community Partners program in 2005. At that time, they were looking for a charity to become involved with. One of the staff in the office, Jon Rees, had a personal connection with Children’s Cancer Connection through the Cornish family, and chose them as the charity to support. 

For the past seven years, the Des Moines office of CH2M HILL has supported Children’s Cancer Connection during the holidays through the adopt-a-family program.  In 2009 CH2M HILL hosted the First Annual CH2M HILL Charity Golf Tournament to Benefit Children’s Cancer Connection.   

The Fourth Annual Tournament is just around the corner on Thursday, May 10th. The tournament will be held again at the picturesque Harvester Golf Club in Rhodes, Iowa, just north of Des Moines. The tournament is a 12:30 shotgun start, followed by a post-golf reception, dinner, raffle and speaker. Registration for the tournament is $125 and includes 18 holes of golf, cart, sleeve of Titleist ProV1 balls, goody bags, snack and drink tickets, a chance to win a hole-in-one year-lease on a luxury vehicle, pin prizes, and trophy and awards.

"Each year we have had a wonderful family speak to our golfers on how they have been helped by Children’s Cancer Connection and their cancer journey. Each story has been touching and inspiring," said tournament chair Shani Wahl. "Through the three years we have held the tournament, we have raised over $20,000 for Children’s Cancer Connection, and hope to reach a tournament goal of $9,000 this year. Each year we hope to grow the tournament, and our following of players and sponsors."

For more information or to register: www.iowacharitygolf.com

CCC Camper Gives Back

Children’s Cancer Connection “kid” Alyssa Turcsak is all grown up, and now she’s ready to give back to CCC. Alyssa was diagnosed with childhood leukemia at the age of 5 and spent two years in chemotherapy before beating cancer. 

Alyssa, now 19, is a second-year student at Scott Community College where she will host a Mini Dance Marathon on March 27 in the Student Life Center on the Bettendorf campus.

Alyssa and her family were first introduced to Dance Marathon while she was being treated at University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. Alyssa participated in her first Dance Marathon event in 2011,at the University of Iowa and again in 2012 at the University of Northern Iowa where she was a top fundraiser.

The Mini Dance Marathon event at Scott Community College is Alyssa’s way of giving back to Children’s Cancer Connection for the support she received as a child. She’s talked up Dance Marathon to other Scott Community College students in the past year and decided it would be perfect to have the event on the Iowa Quad-City campus.

In the past month, she has emailed hundreds of people to let them know of the March 27 activity, established a Facebook page for it and handed out brightly colored flyers to promote the event.

Alyssa said, “Camp made me realize I wanted to do something for other kids with cancer.”

See the full story in the Quad-City Times.

 The Mini Dance Marathon Details

What: Mini Dance Marathon
Where: Scott Community College, 500 Belmont Road, Bettendorf, in the Student Life Center
When: Noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday, March 27

Who: Anyone 16 years and older
Registration: $15, due by March 2 (includes a T-shirt and dinner). Late registration will be accepted.
Information: Alyssa Turcsak, call (563) 726-3976; email sccdancemarathon@gmail.com; online, go to Facebook.com and search for Mini Dance Marathon Scott Community College. Cody Tucker of radio station KBEA-FM (“B-100”) will serve as the DJ. Texas Roadhouse will provide food. Speakers will be from families who have been touched by cancer.

Welcome to Emily!

We are excited to announce that Emily Fish has joined Children's Cancer Connection's team as the Director of Donor Relations! Here is what Emily had to say about her first day at CCC.

Many years ago I set out to work with and alongside kids every day, and on February 13th my wish came true. It was my first day at Children's Cancer Connection. I hope that in the upcoming months, I can bring new and fresh ideas to the events as well as fundraising efforts.

I am anxious to meet each of you and get to know the entire Children's Cancer Connection family better. If you happen to be in the office or in the area please stop in and say "Hello". If there is anything that I can do to assist you or help you in anyway please let me know, I am always happy to help.

 I have been in the Des Moines area all my life and look forward to this new journey with Children's Cancer Connection. Finally, my sincere thanks and gratitude for your continued support of CCC!

For the Kids

In just a few short hours the University of Iowa Dance Marathon will host their BIG Event. Not to be confused with Children’s Cancer Connection’s upcoming The Big Event – A Silver Celebration, Dance Marathon’s BIG Event is a 24-hour Dance Marathon where students who raised the required amount of money assemble to celebrate the children survivors and remember the children who have passed away from cancer throughout the year. Dancers remain standing for the full 24 hours with no caffeine allowed! Live entertainment and a DJ help pass the time along with performances by local bands, University dance and theatre groups, and speeches given by many of the Dance Marathon families!

For the fourth year, University of Iowa Dance Marathon will use a portion of the proceeds raised to be the presenting sponsor of Camp Heart Connection! U of I Dance Marathon has a long tradition of providing both monetary and volunteer support to Camp Heart Connection.

Dance Marathon Dancer Emily Paul will spend her 7^th week as a volunteer at Camp Heart Connection this summer. “I’m involved with both CCC and DM because of the amazing opportunities they give me to help kids and their families stricken with pediatric cancer in an amazing and unique way while also learning so much from them,” Emily said. Emily also said that she loves what both organizations stand for. “Camp is a great place to be for a week, you get to escape form the real world and spend a whole week surrounded by people who care about the same things as you!”

Fellow University of Iowa Dance Marathoner Kyle Merrill volunteered at Camp Heart Connection for the first time last summer and described it as one of the greatest weeks of his life. Kyle’s friends introduced him to Dance Marathon, but he took it upon himself to become more involved in how families were supported by DM. “In both Camp and DM, the greatest thing in my mind is seeing these kids who have gone through so much treatment, and other things, be happy and smile,” Kyle said.

Both Kyle and Emily said that the kids provide the motivation for continued involvement. Kyle said, “The best way to put into words why I dance and spend so much time raising money, planning events, and spending a week at camp, is that it’s all ‘For the Kid,’ the motto of Dance Marathon.”

For more information on becoming a Camp Heart Connection volunteer please visit www.childrenscancerconnection.org/Volunteer

Holiday Cards by Kids are Here!

Send a Message of Hope this Holiday Season

It’s hard to believe that we are already talking about holiday cards but they’re here! The 2011 Holiday Cards by Kids Collection features 8 unique cards drawn by Camp Heart Connection Oncology and Sibling Campers.

Cards are available in assortment sets which include 24 cards (3 of each design) and 25 envelopes for $15 plus shipping and handling. On orders over 50 cards you may choose a single design package.

This year we have added some personalization options that can make your holiday cards even more special. Last year we offered free imprinting on order of 500 or more of the same design…but this year we’ve lowered that minimum order to 250! Custom personalization allows you to change the inside text of the card and add your own logo or picture which makes them great for corporate holiday cards.

Like the idea of personalization but don’t quite have an order of 250? We are offering the same personalization on orders of less than 250 for only $35. This is a great option for adding a family photo or family signatures to your holiday cards.

Ready to get your cards? Assortment sets can be ordered on our website. Please contact Channon Timm at (515) 243-6239 ext. 3 or Channon@ChildrensCancerConnection.org to place single design orders.