Portland, Or. The heroes came in all shapes and sizes at the Walk-For-Wishes. The fundraiser drew more than 1,400 people to the Oregon Zoo on April 16th and raised $128,000 to help make wishes come true for local children battling a life-threatening medical condition. Evelyn Nedich and her sister, wish child Susie Nedich, hung out on the Walk For Wishes stage with wish child Ashlynn Widney and her sister Kylie Widney.
Make-A-Wish® Oregon encouraged people to dress up and they did. Behind the masks and under the flowing capes were parents, neighbors, teachers, nurses, classmates, siblings, friends, advocates.
Here’s a video about the event:
Alaska Airlines Captain Rick Ackman watches as wish child Nicholas Loring takes a test flight in the Alaska Airlines booth.
Members of Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel’s Walk For Wishes team raised $2,610 to support local wish kids.
“I met an incredible wish kid who dressed up like a doctor,” said volunteer wish granter and event emcee Kaitlyn Bolduc. “He told me that if he could dress up like every doctor who helped him, he would, because they are all his heroes.”
Wish child Cason Vandehey and Make-A-Wish Oregon CEO Laila Cook
“I like that there are people that devote their time so kids can experience joy through a wish,” said 13-year-old Ella, whose wish to go on a cruise came true in 2014. She and her friends volunteered at the event by serving as course directors. “It was really cool seeing everyone walk by and being pumped.”
Ella was one of 65 wish kids who signed up to participate in Walk For Wishes. They were honored with a special ceremony where they each received a Wish Hero Medal. Cyndy LeDoux’s daughter Blue had her wish to be in a music video granted in 2014. “It just brightens my heart to see her amazing strength honored,” said LeDoux. “All of those wish kids are just an inspiration and their stories should all be heard.”
For many, seeing the wish kids on stage during the opening ceremony and hearing about their wishes was the highlight of the morning. Maegan Vidal, the physician outreach liaison for Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel, said she was particularly proud to be able to wear her purple cape and star-studded sunglasses to help celebrate the wish heroes who fight every day to defeat the biggest villain of all – a life-threatening medical condition. Her team, Randall Children’s Superheroes, was 78 members strong and raised $2,610 to support local wish kids. “I truly believe in the healing power wishes have on children and their families,” said Vidal. “Children are amazingly resilient at fighting terrible conditions, but wishes give them hope, adventure and memories that take them away from their illness and into an experience they have always wanted.”
Of course, a family-friendly walk wouldn’t be complete without face painting, ice cream, snacks and games. “Seeing everyone come together to support local kids in our community was a special feeling,” said Bolduc. “It’s a powerful moment to be a part of.”
Thousands of volunteers, donors and supporters advance the Make-A-Wish®Oregon mission to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions living in Oregon and Clark County, Washington. With YOUR help, we hope to grant more than 200 wishes each year.
Portland, September 27th, 2014. CCA’s 14th Annual Hero Gala was dubbed an evening of romp & circumstance,. The event rocked the Oregon Convention Center to the tune of $1.16 million with a star-studded crowd. More than 850 guests were entertained by the likes of The Decemberists, Patrick Lamb, Ural Thomas with Ragen Fykes and Moorea Masa, Luz Elana and Tiburones, March Fourth Marching Band, Wanderlust Circus, Sneakin’ Out, and Nu Shooz. Taylor and her Chemo Pal mentor, Alyssa Willamson, were shining bright with their beautiful face paintings.
Dr. Janice Olson, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Program, Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel, Regina Ellis, CCA Founder and CEO, and CCA Board Member, Andrea Corradini, Senior Merchandising Director, Emerging Markets Running, Nike, Inc., get into the spirit of the playful night.
Former Portland Trail Blazer, Terry Porter, Suzie Porter, CCA Board Chair, Andy Lytle, and Mary Lytle.
Nike’s Tinker Hatfield, Vice President, Design & Special Projects, and CCA Chemo Pal mentor and longtime supporter, David Brown, Merchandise Director, NIKE Inc.
The Wanderlust Circus entertained Gala goers throughout the entire Wonderball.
Portland Trail Blazer, Steve Blake, and his wife, Kristen, longtime supporters of CCA.
Artist Rochelle Carr with CCA Ambassador Board Member, Bryce Amato, posing in front of Rochelle’s wall of cheerful and thoughtful artwork.
Regina Ellis, CCA Founder and CEO, with Chris Funk, from The Decemberists and Black Prairie.
Paul Gulick, CCA Board Chair Emeritus, Co-Founder, In-Focus, Founder, Clarity Visual Systems, and Michelle Decourcy of Michelle Decourcy Collection.
Dynamic duo Valerie Day and John Smith, aka Nu Shooz, get Wonderball guests off their feet with a live performance of their Billboard Top 100 song that spent 15 weeks in the Top 40 in 1986 – “ I Can’t Wait.”
Chemo Pal mentor, George Mollas and his mentee, Nicholas, celebrating the occasion in style.
Members of The Decemberists, Patrick Lamb, Ural Thomas with Ragen Fykes and Moorea Masa, Luz Elana and Tiburones, March Fourth Marching Band, Wanderlust Circus, Sneakin’ Out, and Nu Shooz goofing off during rehearsal for the Wonderball.
CCA Founder’s Society member, Marsha Brockmeyer, celebrates with CCA VP Brand, Abby Guyer.
The sign says it all 14th Annual CCA Hero Gala: Wonderball!
Opus Events Agency CEO and CCA Board Member, Grant Hammersley, with CCA Board Member Tim Cooper, Senior Vice President, Brown & Brown Northwest.
The Decemberists front man, Colin Meloy, serenades Wonderball guests with the help of bandmates, Jenny Conlee and Chris Funk (not pictured), and the March 4th Marching Band.
Jennifer and Jeff Nyburg, Wonderball Presenting Sponsors Angela and CS Sheffield, and Wesley Sheffield.
Jordan Roquemore, Beaverton High School Marching Tech, leads members of the Beaverton Marching Ensemble, in a rousing rendition of “When the Saints Go Marching In” to transition revelers to the Portland Ballroom for the evening’s program.
CCA Board Member, Andrea Corradini, Senior Merchandising Director, Emerging Markets Running, Nike, Inc., and Cholee Thompson, Owner and President, Ryan Artists, share a ballerina/fairy bonding moment.
“We invited our best friends to “come out and play with CCA” and that they did. We are blown away by their generosity and so grateful they stand united with us in the belief that JOY MATTERS for seriously ill kids, teens, and their families.” said Regina Ellis, Founder and CEO of CCA.
Portland, June 21st, 2014. Nearly 100 motorcyclists rode their hogs, trikes and street bikes to support Children’s Cancer Association‘sAlexandra Ellis Caring Cabin™. Mike and Cheryl Durbin, owners of Paradise Harley-Davidson and good friends to CCA, are founding sponsors of JoyRide and have been sponsors of the JoyRide all five years. The 5th annual JoyRide began at Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel and traveled US-26 and State Highway 6 (the Wilson River Highway), a scenic stretch from Banks to Tillamook, with stops at Gales Creek Shell & Grocery and a finale party at the Caring Cabin in Pacific City, OR.
Bikers raised $28,000 to support CCA’s Caring Cabin, a 24-acre secluded retreat home in Pacific City, OR, that welcomes more than 500 family members with seriously ill children and teens each year.
Presenting sponsor, Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel, hosted the riders for a morning of celebration and entertainment from KGON.
The Ellis family founded CCA in 1995 after their oldest daughter, Alex, lost her battle with cancer. Cliff Ellis, shown here with son, Zack, started the JoyRide five years ago to benefit CCA’s Alexandra Ellis Caring Cabin.
KGON was a generous media sponsor of the JoyRide this year. DJ Iris shown here, rallying the riders at ride start.
Matthew makes the ride official by cutting the ribbon for ride start at Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel. Randall is the presenting sponsor of this year’s JoyRide.
Mike of Paradise Harley-Davidson, Cliff Thorne, JoyRide Committee, and Chris Lee of Rubber Side Down. Paradise Harley-Davidson and Rubber Side Down are sponsors of JoyRide.
The Nye Family, aka. JR’s Riders for Cancer, proudly wearing the American flag.
Just one glimpse of the riders on their way to Pacific City.
Pam Lum with Jordan Green of Pro Caliber, a JoyRide sponsor
Fellow riders were happy to see 14-year-old Pup in the ride again this year – his fifth ride!
New and vintage bikes parked for a quick stop along the route.
Tiffany Jennings, top individual fundraiser for the JoyRide, two years in a row.
Nearly 100 riders turned out for this Fifth Annual JoyRide. They are shown outside their final destination, the Alexandra Ellis Caring Cabin in Pacific City, OR.
CCA Co-founder Cliff Ellis shared, “The CCA JoyRide is a dream come true for me. Five years ago, I envisioned a bunch of bikes rolling up to the Caring Cabin in celebration of a fun ride – with the added bonus of raising funds for this amazing retreat home for families with seriously ill kids. In this, our Fifth Annual JoyRide, we have now raised more than $125,000.”
Before the ride began children, families and nurses at Randall Children’s Hospital met riders and checked out their motorcycles.
Matthew, an 11-year-old cancer survivor and visitor of the Caring Cabin, cut the purple ribbon kicking-off the ride. Matthew’s mother thanked the riders and said, “From the moment we arrived, you could feel all the love and emotion radiating from the Cabin; it was magical. I hadn’t seen the kids smile and laugh like that in so long, especially Matty. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience. We thank CCA and all of you for supporting this wonderful organization from the bottom of our hearts.”
From the Children’s Cancer Association:
The Children’s Cancer Association didn’t start with a foundation, it started with a family. One who faced its own battle with serious pediatric illness almost two decades ago in Portland, OR. From that experience came a passionate commitment and focus: To deliver the resources, the friendship, and the healing power of music to families facing the same challenges.
Unlike many organizations dedicated to the worthy goal of someday finding a cure for cancer, CCA is all about today. We specialize on the moment, delivering immediate help to kids and teens facing life-threatening illness. When seriously ill children and their families need more than medicine, CCA’s innovative programs create joy one moment at a time.
Randall Children’s Hospital is one of Oregon’s largest providers of pediatric inpatient and trauma services and opened its new home in February 2012. Randall Children’s Hospital has a medical staff of more than 600 physicians, including pediatric medical and surgical specialists, sub-specialists, and community pediatricians. Randall Children’s Hospital has received more than 100,000 patient visits per year. Our children’s emergency department is Oregon’s busiest, with 22,000 visits annually.
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