The Camp » Flying
Horse Away
Flying Horse Away
Chemotherapy treatments and loss of his leg did not stop
15-year-old D.J. Miller of Greenville, OH from climbing the
35-ft. adventure wall at actor Paul Newman’s Hole in
the Wall Gang Camp for seriously ill children this summer.
This summer, D.J. and 24 other children from across the
state, who suffer from cancer and sickle cell disease, happily
set aside hospital visits, blood transfusions, surgeries
and chemotherapy treatments, for a weeklong outdoor camp
experience.
The children from Ohio, featured throughout our website,
are our founding campers and ambassadors to spread the news
throughout the state about this amazing project! All of them
participated in “Flying Horse Away!”
Because of the tremendous response from the medical community
and the kids throughout Ohio for a special needs medical
camp, we decided to create an innovative program called “Flying
Horse Away” to allow a limited number of Ohio children
to attend other Hole in the Wall Camps until we open in 2009.
This summer the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps provided
25 camper spots. The Ohio Division of the American Cancer
Society, along with numerous individuals, contributed to
the program to send children from Ohio to camp.
A group of eight children attended Paul Newman's original
Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, CT this summer. The
second group of 13 children attended the Double H Ranch Hole
in the Wall Camp in Lake Luzerne, NY. A group of four children
attended Camp Boggy Creek in Eustis, FL. The children are
battling cancer, sickle cell disease, and hemophilia.
In addition to the children, several community volunteers
and chaperones accompanied the children on their adventure,
and made it possible for them to attend camp.
A special gathering was held for the campers before their
departure so the kids and the parents had an opportunity
to get to know each other and learn more about Flying Horse
Farms.
The campers departed from Port Columbus Airport, many as
first time flyers. A number of the children were on a break
from intensive chemotherapy treatments and recent surgeries,
and most carried numerous medications. However, this summer
trip was simply about having fun.
The Flying Horse Away program will continue each summer
until our facilities are ready to open!
The 25 children are patients at Columbus Children’s
Hospital; Mercy Children's Hospital (Toledo); Rainbow Babies
and Children's Hospital (Cleveland); The Children's Hospital
at The Cleveland Clinic; The Children's Medical Center of
Dayton; and Toledo Children's Hospital.
For more information on Flying Horse Away, please contact
Patrick Smith at 614-236-0881 or e-mail him at patrick@flyinghorsefarms.org. |
