Inheritance of Hope Stories
Since 2008, Aaron Hedges has been part of Inheritance of Hope in one way or another–working at retreats, administering technology systems, managing human resources, and much more. The former double major in math and Spanish clearly has a unique set of skills,…
Recently, Southwest Airlines donated 50 round-trip tickets, valued at $20,000, to Inheritance of Hope. This gift allows us to serve more families while meeting the goals of achieving unparalleled financial stewardship and providing ease of transportation to those for…
Toward the end of 2017, our Events Director, Betsy Ogren, mentioned we were in need of someone to make wooden crosses as our previous volunteer is no longer able to keep up with our growing IoH Family. These handmade treasures are gifted to parents at our Legacy…
The phrase “IoH family” is used often by Inheritance of Hope, so pervasively that one might think it is thrown around casually. That could not be further from the case. Examples abound of those who have embraced the IoH family as an extension of their own, but one of…
The O’Gorman family attended our NYC Legacy Retreat® in November 2016. Merritt, who loves dance and was 10 years old at the time, told local news that her favorite part was watching the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, featuring the Rockettes. The O’Gorman…
On January 19-22, Inheritance of Hope, in partnership with Kendra Scott, hosted 10 families facing a terminal metastatic breast cancer diagnosis on a life-changing experience in Orlando, Florida. The Legacy Retreat®, Inheritance of Hope’s signature offering, is an…
Chad Falk attended the October 2016 Orlando Legacy Retreat® with his wife and three children. He shared his story at Calvary Evangelical Free Church in Rochester, MN, on November 12. This is a partial transcript of Chad’s remarks. I was diagnosed with lung cancer in…
Inheritance of Hope hosted 21 families in our largest ever NYC Legacy Retreat®. On November 18, these parents and their children arrived at the beautiful Park Central Hotel New York where they began a wonderful adventure in NYC. We had fun together ice skating, seeing…
Hollis Malkowski has never run a marathon before, but on November 5 he will race in the 2017 New York City Marathon. He signed up late, has not had much time to train, and was warned by his avid marathon-running aunt that this was not among his brightest ideas. He…
Fourteen-year-old Ethan Harned would prefer that attention be on Inheritance of Hope (IoH) instead of on himself, but his is a story that needs to be told. Ethan has raised $526 by selling wristbands, and the seed money came entirely out of his own savings. Most…
Meet Aaron Hedges, Inheritance of Hope’s Technology and Talent Director. He excels in both matters of the head and the heart while serving our IoH family, a role that brings him true joy. We are fortunate to enjoy his leadership on staff. Our CEO says he can truly…
Chris Douglas wants to talk about silver linings. He can share a list of them with ease if you mention his upcoming half marathon at Soldiers Field in Rochester, Minnesota. Chris is competing in the Nut House Challenge by Triton Events next weekend with the…
Lauren Latimer is one of two 2017 Inheritance of Hope Legacy Scholarship recipients. The scholarship is awarded to a college-bound high school senior who is living with a terminally ill parent and who demonstrates a compelling personal and financial need, a strong…
Emily Harris is one of two 2017 Inheritance of Hope Legacy Scholarship recipients. The scholarship is awarded to a college-bound high school senior who is living with a terminally ill parent and who demonstrates a compelling personal and financial need, a strong sense…
Kathy Midkiff ran the Chicago marathon—her first—this past October in support of Inheritance of Hope (IoH). Her fundraising goal was to raise enough money to send an entire family on a Legacy Retreat®. Kathy’s daughter-in-law, Kerri Midkiff, was diagnosed with…
The Black family attended an Inheritance of Hope Legacy Retreat® in August 2014. Haleigh Black, now age 18, and her father, Reggie, returned as volunteers to serve at the most recent retreat in May this year. They were part of the largest group of served family…
I’ve been coming to Inheritance of Hope Legacy Retreats for many years now. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed as families walk into the hotel, and I see all the desires that come in the door with them. In the short-term, families want to figure out what to do with their…
Inheritance of Hope welcomes our newest staff member, Audra Milligan. Audra will serve as IoH’s first Strategic Initiatives Director. The core cross-functional areas she will support are operations, strategic projects, administration, and marketing. Audra brings 12…
Zachary Austin, 13, of Brevard, NC, first learned about Inheritance of Hope (IoH) when two of his friends were given the opportunity to attend a Legacy Retreat®. Erik and Jason Crawford went with their parents, John and Heather, on the Orlando Legacy Retreat® in…
Andrea Kent was not a runner until 2000, when her husband of 20 years died unexpectedly. She began to run in order to cope with her grief, and explains, “I didn’t know what to do, so I just started running.” Within a year, she ran her first marathon. Now, at age 59,…
Carol Lacert and Theresa Whyard-McKinley, whose families have both been impacted by terminal illness, love helping other families in similar situations enjoy Inheritance of Hope Legacy Retreats®. They enthusiastically fundraise so that more families from Northern…
Students in the Key Club of Scecina Memorial High School in Indianapolis staged a big event in July of 2016 at Irvington’s Ellenberger Park. The Second Annual Ultimate Frisbee Tournament in memory of Jenny Deery was organized by students. Jenny Deery was a Scecina…
Jeff Carter attended the May 2014 Orlando Legacy Retreat® with his family. Since his wife was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer, he has taken up endurance fitness, and he paid forward his Legacy Retreat® experience by using his Florida Ironman training to promote…
When most people think about a Times Square countdown, they think of a giant ball being lowered from a tall pole in the center of New York City while millions of people count down to a new year. Confetti. Music. Celebration. Well, Inheritance of Hope is about to…
Nick Caluori and Bryan Uhl inspire others every day—as members of the West Point concert band and brass quintet, it’s just all part of a day’s work. On October 9th, they will also inspire hope as they run the Army Ten-Miler. Teammates in music, Nick and Bryan will…
Carrey, a wife and mom with ALS, originally shared this post here on August 4th. On this day 15 years ago, Eric and I vowed to unite as one. We joined at the altar in a small, white, Little-House-on-the-Prairie-type chapel. We stood side by side, no bridesmaids or…
Repeat volunteer Nate Most first heard of Inheritance of Hope at a small tractor dealership in his hometown of Brady, Nebraska. A rancher, Nate was simply doing business and was surprised when a stranger who had come in for oil approached him and told about how his…
I grew up in Brainerd, MN, at a small family resort where I learned to clean cabins at a very early age and got to play in the lake all summer. I come from a family of swimmers and was a competitive swimmer form 3rd grade through college at St. Olaf in Northfield,…
5 Things You May Not Know About Our Assistant Events Director 1. Currently I live in Houghton, NY. My family has been here for three generations, and being back after spending most of high school and college here has been good. My grandfather is happy to have me…
John Raneri was the first male half marathoner to cross the 2016 Hunter Subaru Legacy Run finish line, with a time of 1:08:41. A native of New Fairfield, CT, he attended the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and has been running for 11 years. What are some…
Haylee Bunner turned in her Inheritance of Hope volunteer application as soon as she could–the very day she turned 18. She had been waiting for the chance to serve families like hers for quite some time. Haylee, her brother Cameron, and their parents Matthew and…
Shawanna White was the first female half marathoner to cross the 2016 Hunter Subaru Legacy Run finish line with a time of 1:24:17. She’s been running 17 years and has participated in many races, including Cooper River Bridge (SC), Mercedes Benz Marathon (AL), and Get…
Strebe Family at their Legacy Retreat® The Strebe family—Jon, Donna, Luke, Ryan, and Emma Kate—attended an Orlando Legacy Retreat® in February 2014, shortly after Jon underwent a bone marrow transplant and thoracic surgery. At the time, he was battling stage 3…
Thanks to your continued support, Inheritance of Hope reached a new milestone at the Orlando Legacy Retreat® in January – it marked our 300th family served! The retreat also marked another record – 12 family members served returned as volunteers! “Past…
The Gran Fondo New York is a grueling hundred-mile bike race with a cumulative elevation gain of 7,636 feet. Shannon Fogarty completed the race in May 2015 in support of Inheritance of Hope and raised over $15,000 – enough to send three families to the NYC Legacy…
This Miracle on 34th Street was just the beginning of a beautiful partnership between Tony and Inheritance of Hope. Since that Legacy Retreat® in 2015, he has continued to impact families. We are tremendously grateful for this man who has opened his heart to bless…
Anyone who has attended a Legacy Retreat® knows that it’s a logistical puzzle – a puzzle that’s beautifully put together under the leadership of our Family Legacy Director Jill Thompson. Let’s go “behind the scenes” to learn more about Jill. 6 Things You May Not Know…
Rachel Pearson dreams big: “Ten years, cover of Forbes… yeah, I can see that.” Anyone who meets Rachel can too. But successful growth for her young business of organic skincare products is not her only goal. “I want to educate you and heal your skin. And I want to…
On October 10th, professional triathlete and Inheritance of Hope supporter Ruth Brennan Morrey, Ph.D., competed in the IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. She’s 1 of only 9 American women to compete in the 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile…
Over the past several months, I have had the privilege of writing about members of the Inheritance of Hope family. Cheryl Broyles, like each person I have presented, defies description. In June 2000, Cheryl was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain…
Friday, March 13, 2015, Jerusalem Half Marathon: Runners climb paths long traveled by pilgrims. They gaze upon landscapes that have been treasured and disputed for ages. The paths are now roads and the scenes have been added to, but the place is timeless—as are the…
This week, Dad took us on a vacation to Destin, Florida. The sun is shining (maybe a little too much), and the afternoon showers never fail to make an appearance. The sand is soft, and the water is refreshing. But you are missing. Everyone who has lost someone they…
On May 8, 2015, I traveled to New York City to receive the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. As I prepared for the trip, I thought of all the people I would have loved to join me to share in our accomplishment together. I decided I would write an account of the weekend….
With its hundred-mile course and cumulative elevation gain of 7,636 feet, the Gran Fondo New York challenges the fittest of cyclists. Athletes endure months of training in preparation for the bike race, and Shannon Fogarty is ready–both physically and mentally. …
We all love the sunshine. We hope and pray for clear, blue skies. Unfortunately, sometimes it rains. Inheritance of Hope exists to provide an umbrella over families when the rain is falling down. When families who have young children are told one of the parents has…
“Inspiring” is the word mentioned over and over by coaches, teammates, reporters, and friends, who all say that Tayler Chandler’s work ethic, perseverance, and cheerful disposition permeate everything she does. The Columbus Indiana East High School senior has been…
On Saturday, April 25th, hundreds of runners and walkers from the Brevard, North Carolina, community inspired hope by participating in the 3rd annual Legacy Run presented by Hunter Subaru, Food Matters Market, and Brevard First United Methodist Church. The event…
I had never heard of a Legacy Retreat® or Inheritance of Hope (IoH) until my daughter, Emma Barnhart, told me about it – how her family had been nominated to be a part of one of those retreats and how excited she was about Inheritance of Hope’s purpose and mission…
It started out a rainy day – and when it rains here it pours! But everything is green and in blossom so the rain is very much welcomed. Today we went to the Western Wall, the Garden Tomb and found an amazing ice cream shop in the Jewish Quarter of the Old…
Sorry I skipped Day 2! The time change is a bit difficult to adjust to! I’ve had the opportunity to see Old City sites. Also, went to the expo to pick up my runner’s packet and shirt. The roads are a lot hillier than I expected! The race day weather is…
For over two years I have had the dream of running in the Jerusalem Marathon. Well…this week I’m walking (running) out my dream – want to join me? The dream began when my friend, Israel, told me about the marathon. I didn’t realize Jerusalem…
The big question I get from many athletes is when do I need to start focusing on my training if I’m doing “x” event on “x” date. I’m here to say that yes there is too long and yes there is too short. So that begs to ask the question…
Julie Hull, Inheritance of Hope donor and volunteer, lost her husband, Ken, after he fought cancer for two years. In spite of her grief, Julie is resolute. “I commit myself to carrying the message of Hope and sharing it through volunteering and serving…
One of the biggest wastes of time and stress are uncontrollables. As a coach, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had athletes ask me questions of concern regarding things that weren’t within their control. Such things that come to mind are wind…
Each year, Inheritance of Hope awards a well-deserving college-bound senior with the Legacy Scholarship. These scholarship recipients all share one thing in common: they all have a parent with a life-threatening illness. Mike Barrett and his wife, Catherine,…
I could have simply put the title of this piece as “moderation=success”, but that could have been mistaken and left to thought from a subjective perspective. Therefore, because I wanted to be more concrete and objective with this piece, I’m tying in…
Kim Loving was first introduced to Inheritance of Hope (IoH) through a letter from a volunteer. Kim and Natalie Lindell lived in the same neighborhood in Jacksonville, Florida. Natalie had volunteered on several Legacy Retreats® and had heard about Kim, a young…
Sandy Huffstetler gives to Inheritance of Hope because she strives to be intentional in how she lives each day. “The emphasis IOH places on living intentionally really resonated with me. Love is a verb. We should always be asking ourselves what we are doing to…
Richard Birney has served on the Inheritance of Hope (IoH) Board of Directors for over five years. He has been an integral part of the organization for even longer. Richard and his wife Peggy first met IoH founders Deric and Kristen Milligan in the pews of…
Paul Reese and his family live in Mississippi, but lately he hasn’t been home very often. Paul makes regular visits to his oncologist in Little Rock, Arkansas. His wife, Cheryl, started training with a ministry in Missouri. And in May the Reeses attended an…
Our founder, Kristen Milligan, left a profound legacy with her family and the families we serve. As we approach the second anniversary of her death, we showcase members of our Inheritance of Hope family and what legacy means to them. Jacey Lawler has volunteered at…
Our founder, Kristen Milligan, left a profound legacy with her family and the families we serve. As we approach the second anniversary of her death, we showcase members of our Inheritance of Hope family and what legacy means to them. Larisa Gjivoje ran the 2013…
Our founder, Kristen Milligan, left a profound legacy with her family and the families we serve. As we approach the second anniversary of her death, we showcase members of our Inheritance of Hope family and what legacy means to them. Larry Lanham attended our February…
Rawd Allen was first diagnosed with brain cancer in 1994, but February 2014 happened to be the opportune time to attend an Inheritance of Hope (IoH) Legacy Retreat®. Rawd’s last tumor surgery was 10 years ago, when his children, Nathan and Jordan, were very…
The wintry weather in New York City was a bit of a challenge for the Rye family from Florida, but Joel Rye said it didn’t stop his family from making memories at the Inheritance of Hope Legacy Retreat® in November 2013. “We’ll always remember all the…
How did you learn about Inheritance of Hope (IoH)? My brother, Michael, had discovered IoH while searching for a charity to run for in a marathon. IoH instantly found a place in his heart, and he has since served on several Legacy Retreats®. What made you decide to…
At first Paul and Alexis Johnson from Fresno, Calif., weren’t sure if the Inheritance of Hope (IoH) Legacy Retreat® was right for them. Paul was feeling better and their children were both less than three years old. But much in their past five years has been…
Inheritance of Hope has been blessed by many incredibly passionate and dedicated volunteers. In fact, Inheritance of Hope’s mission of inspiring hope in young families facing the loss of a parent cannot be realized without them! Our “Volunteer Spotlight”…
Inheritance of Hope has been blessed by many incredibly passionate and dedicated volunteers. In fact, Inheritance of Hope’s mission of inspiring hope in young families facing the loss of a parent cannot be realized without them! Our “Volunteer Spotlight” series is a…
“We knew about Inheritance of Hope (IoH) for a while but never realized how incredible it was until we were a part of it,” said Jay Maier. Jay, his wife Tara, and their five children lived near IoH Legacy Retreat® Director Jill Thompson in Rochester, Minn. Tara said…
Phyllis Young learned about Inheritance of Hope when a local North Carolina television station featured the organization. She immediately knew her family would enjoy going to an IOH Legacy Retreat®. “I knew we took things for granted and we needed to take some time to…
Nearly 200 volunteers participated in Inheritance of Hope’s 2nd Annual Legacy Run! This year, Team IoH Director, Candice Walsh, identified Chantel Azevedo to serve as Volunteer Coordinator. A native of Toronto, Chantel graduated from Brevard College in May 2013 with a…
When Amy Martin from North Carolina was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2007, her two oldest children, John and Jennifer, were respectively off at college and working in California. But her youngest, Lyndi, was 7 years old and still lived at home. “She has grown up…
Inheritance of Hope has been blessed by many incredibly passionate and dedicated volunteers. In fact, Inheritance of Hope’s mission of inspiring hope in young families facing the loss of a parent cannot be realized without them! Our “Volunteer Spotlight” series is a…
Amanda Hichkad has stage IV cancer that started as cervical cancer in 2008 but spread to her spine, lungs, and liver. She’s been through surgeries, radiation, and 13 rounds of chemotherapy, and she visits doctors several times a week to keep the illness under control….
How am I doing? Well, it’s kind of surreal to enter some anniversaries: diagnosis, surgery, and start of chemo. In February we were able to be in Florida on an amazing retreat for families who are dealing with terminal illnesses. Yes, the “T” word, not one I like to…
Mike Coleman wears a patch to treat tumors in his brain that his 5-year-old daughter, Leah, calls his “snow cap.” Leah has started kindergarten, joined the Girl Scouts, and loves dancing and Disney princesses. Although she may not know the technical term for her dad’s…
At approximately 5:15 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1, my mother-in-law called me on my mobile phone as I was driving out of the parking garage at work in Midtown Atlanta. “Lanny has been in an accident” were the words that began a journey for our family that culminated in…
Last year the Kramers from Indiana went on their first family trip: an all-expenses-paid Legacy Retreat® in Orlando. Nolan, 5, and Aryka, 3, still talk about visiting the Disney World and Universal Studios theme parks. “They just let loose and didn’t worry about…
Sometimes there are television shows that teach us something meaningful about life & offer nuggets of truth that we can tuck away. Downton Abbey is one of those for me. [Spoiler Alert for anyone who has not watched the Season 4 Premier as there will be scenes I…
After nearly 18 years of marriage, Matt Herbster didn’t know how much more time he had with his high school sweetheart, Julie. She was 38 years old when she was diagnosed with colon cancer last year, and the disease quickly spread to her liver. “Most people wouldn’t…
Lorenza Guereca doesn’t often let other people see what a challenge living with cancer has been. She said strong faith keeps her positive after years of treatments. Lorenza, who lives with her husband and daughter in Lafayette, In., said she doesn’t dwell on her…
Kristen Milligan passed away one year ago tomorrow. She was a truly amazing person and my very best friend. One of her favorite verses is found in James 1:2-4 and she referenced it often in her speaking engagements, books, and daily life. This is what it says in the…
“There’s a really big need to tell your story,” said Julie Hull of Eagan, Minn. Julie’s husband, Ken, was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer after a blood clot was found in his calf three years ago. Ken was a long-distance runner, and the cancer stunned Julie and…
The 2013 fall race season has begun! Team Inheritance of Hope runners will be found in 4 amazing races. Asheville Citizen Times City Half Marathon – 9/28: My niece and I are running this hilly course on September 28th. This will be my second half marathon…
I had scanxiety. I didn’t sleep much … just thinking and thinking. Looking at the clock at 1:45, 3:00, 4:00. I could feel changes in my body. For one, I didn’t hurt in my breast or side anymore. My back still hurt, but not in the same location,…
The first time Kimberly Loving received mail about Inheritance of Hope and its Legacy Retreats®, she placed the letter in a basket and walked away. “I was so sick I couldn’t think about it,” she said. It wasn’t until months late that Kim, a mother of three from St….
This summer you can find the Lampe kids from Germantown, Ill., swimming at local pools and water parks. “They don’t need big trips to a lot of places,” Lisa Lampe, mother of 10-year-old Jack and 6-year-old Jordyn, said. “If we go bowling one day, they’ll say this was…
“I can’t believe this is coming out of my mouth,” Kristen Ricciardelli said, “but I actually think it’s easier to be an active cancer patient than a post-cancer patient.” She spoke from experience. The mother of four from Milwaukee was still breast feeding her…
Have you ever had told your kids you are going to be doing something really fun a few weeks or maybe months too soon? If so you have been plagued with the constant questions: “Is it time yet?” “How many more days?” “Are we there…
One day someone asked me if I was interested in sponsoring a candle for the upcoming Relay for Life event in honor or memory of someone with cancer. Afraid to answer, I simply agreed and took the paperwork home. I asked myself, “Do I know anyone with cancer?” Nobody…
Kim Bunner said living with cancer for more than a decade has given her perspective. The illness brought her closer to her husband, Matt, and showed her children, 15-year-old Haylee and 12-year-old Cameron, how to be considerate, Kim said. “You hate to say that…
Written by Andrean Maier (She is attending the May 2013 Legacy Retreat with her family.) I am the middlest child. I am 10. And I have another perspective. You know that over the last few months my mom has been struggling with stage 4 ovarian cancer. It was strange…
My dad was diagnosed with very rare stage 4 lymphoma in his eyes when I was 15. It was a pretty tough time for my family. Doctors didn’t think he was going to make it, but thank God he did. My family had gone through a lot of tough things in the past, but I always…
Mikki Jeschke’s goals include volunteering, fundraising, and launching a non-profit organization. But the mother of two from Fishers, Indiana, didn’t have these projects in mind when she attended the Inheritance of Hope Legacy Retreat® at Disney World with her family…
Several years ago in 2005, my wife Heather was diagnosed with cancer. She had malignant pleural mesothelioma, a very rare and deadly form. It was devastating to our family, particularly because we had just celebrated new life. Just three months prior to her…
I read an article this week that really impacted me. The writer sat at a playground with a friend/acquaintance and they chatted as they watched their kids play. They had spent many hours at this playground on different days and yet they barely knew each other. I…
March 18 of this year would have been Inheritance of Hope co-founder Kristen Milligan’s 40th birthday. Though something about that number creates discomfort for those reaching it, Kristen was not the sort of person to be bothered by a number. I know I am not alone…
Tricia Lillard calls her experience with cancer an emotional roller-coaster. “One of the biggest challenges is the uncertainty with which I have to live my life,” she said. “You think things are great then you get a bad scan or diagnosis.” Two of her children, Tekia…
Bambi Byers, 40, said the Tim McGraw song “Live Like You Were Dying” sums up everything she could say about her husband, Marc, who passed away in March 2011. “It was my husband to a ‘T,’” she said. Marc was having trouble swallowing in June 2009, and a few months…