Inheritance of Hope Stories
I’ve been thinking about Martha from the Bible a lot lately. Martha often gets a bad rap due to her busyness in wanting to serve the Lord, while her sister Mary was content with just being at Jesus’ feet. It’s often preached to us that we should be “a Mary in a Martha…
Those who come into the world with another person, a twin, are never alone. The lives of identical twins are so innately blended together that moving from an “us” to a “me” can seem impossible. Losing Kris meant losing my identity–my PLURAL identity–and…
Hannah Black will graduate from high school on March 22, just days ahead of her 22nd birthday, and when she does, her contagious smile will say what words cannot. The young artist is unable to use speech to communicate, but expresses herself through facial cues, a…
Henry Nicsinger was cured of cancer once, then he was cured again, and again, and again, and again. Diagnosed with testicular cancer at 31, declared cancer-free after undergoing surgery, Henry went through surgery once more twenty years later when he was found to have…
Shannon Fogarty holds the distinction of being one of our most successful fundraisers who is also a past retreat participant. To date, this family member served-turned Inheritance of Hope super fundraiser has sent six families on a life-changing Legacy RetreatⓇ….
One of the newest members of the Inheritance of Hope family plans to come back as soon as she can. Dionna Koval turned in her volunteer application just weeks after participating in our NYC Legacy RetreatⓇ this past November. Before their retreat, Dionna and her son…
While most people were eating leftovers or searching for Black Friday deals, on the day after Thanksgiving in 2016, Tracy Higley was diagnosed with de novo stage IV metastatic breast cancer. This was her first incidence of cancer, thus the label “de novo,” a less…
In the fall of 2016, Melinda Hodge had a routine, normal mammogram. Six months later, a lump was discovered at her yearly well visit, and she was subsequently diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Scans showed that it had already spread to her brain and bones,…
Lauren Latimer vividly remembers her introduction to Inheritance of Hope, “When my mom first told me she wanted our family to go on an IoH Legacy RetreatⓇ, I was like, ‘Sorry. That doesn’t sound like fun. I don’t want to go on a cancer retreat.’” The…
Since the Strebe family attended an Inheritance of Hope Legacy RetreatⓇ in February 2014, Jon and Donna have only missed a handful. Between the two of them, they have volunteered at 12 retreats. That’s worth repeating–a dozen Legacy Retreats! The Strebe family…
A chance click of the mouse led Bob Sauer to Inheritance of Hope (IoH), but his involvement since then has been nothing short of dedicated. While scrolling through charity partners on the Marine Corps Marathon website, Bob came across the IoH logo and double-clicked…
Almost two years ago, Cristina Tebolt, described by her husband Seiji Shiraishi as a “city girl,” visited New York City for the last time. Having lived there before the couple married, Cristina was in her element. The Big Apple was decked out for the holidays, and…
Elise Barrett has sound advice for caregivers who are walking the same path she has walked: “One of the things I had to learn over and over again is that human capacity is limited,” she recently shared. “These experiences take more out of you than you can replenish,…
Holli Brown calls Inheritance of Hope “the most intentional charity we know,” high praise from this recipient of the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of over 4,000 hours she has given as a volunteer. Holli, a flight attendant with Southwest…
Geoff Lewis was 31 years old, engaged, and a new business owner when he was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in 2007. For eight years, he “fought like hell,” according to his younger brother Josh. A hard-worker and optimist until the very end, Geoff passed away…
Through the generous donation of Analgesic Healthcare, one family will be sponsored and fully-funded on an upcoming Inheritance of Hope Legacy RetreatⓇ. According to Roy Edgerton, CEO of Analgesic Healthcare, Inheritance of Hope was a natural choice for the company…
The families Isaiah Douglas has volunteered for consider him a hero, but the soft-spoken college freshman shrugs off their praise with a “that’s what I’m here for” attitude. Known as patient, kind, and wise beyond his 18 years, Isaiah has a knack for connecting with…
In January 2018, fashion designer and philanthropist, Kendra Scott provided a Legacy Retreat® for 10 families facing a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis. IoH is dear to Kendra’s heart, and she and her company are quickly becoming dear to the heart of IoH. Kendra…
In May 2017, when we had a big Legacy Retreat in Orlando, I got to know one of the families, the House family, pretty closely. We had four days with the House family, and they flew by like they always do. We do these retreats trusting that the impact is not only for…
In our final installment of this series, Co-Founder and CEO Deric Milligan talks with Communications Manager Angie Howell about his memories, and what has changed in the past ten years. IoH: What are some of the memories that stand out to you the most from the August…
Communications Manager Angie Howell continues our conversations with members of the IoH family who were on our very first Legacy RetreatⓇ to Lake George in August 2008. Meg Hill served as the children’s counselor that weekend, and leading up to the retreat, began to…
The Heinzelmans–Sue, Mark, Jessica, and Robbie–were one of seven families on our first Legacy RetreatⓇ to Lake George in New York during the summer of 2008. Our Communications Manager, Angie Howell, recently caught up with mom Sue to hear how the family is…
These days, Stephen Poquette is the director of fall retreats and internships at Camp Timberline in Estes Park, Colorado. Back in November 2016, his most important job was that of caregiver to his mom, Teresa Bloss. Stephen and his brothers Josh and Andrew Bloss…
In 2015, we interviewed Tayler Chandler as she wrapped up “Walk it Out for IoH,” a 5K designed for all fitness levels that the then-high school senior planned and organized. Tayler raised $5,100, enough to send a family like hers on a Legacy RetreatⓇ! Tayler’s “Walk…
Conversation with Tom Dodd, participant on our first Legacy RetreatⓇ August of 2018 marks the ten-year anniversary of our very first Legacy RetreatⓇ! In the summer of 2008, seven families enjoyed fun and fellowship together on the shores of Lake George in the…
We are honored to post Jenny Mosier’s story here, in her own words. Thank you, Jenny, for sharing your IoH and Southwest stories! In December, our family was accepted for an all-expenses paid vacation courtesy of Inheritance of Hope (IoH). IoH provides Legacy…
Inheritance of Hope (IoH) is a non-profit organization that inspires hope in young families facing the loss of a parent. Through all-expenses-paid Legacy RetreatsⓇ, parents who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, along with their caregiver and…
A Facebook post and a few clicks led Heidi Benson to Inheritance of Hope, and she has served on almost every Legacy Retreat since. A friend of a friend posted about their retreat experience as a volunteer, and as she read more, Heidi says she immediately knew she…
Dena Austin and her husband Blake are veteran Legacy RetreatⓇ volunteers, and now Dena is stepping into the role of Legacy Retreat and Venue Coordinator. A volunteer since 2016, Coordinator since January 2017, and supporter since 2014, Dena knew she wanted to become…
John Thomas, known to friends and family as “JT,” ran the Big Sur Marathon at the end of April in support of Inheritance of Hope. This was JT’s 27th completed marathon–yes, you read that right–27th! JT was introduced to Inheritance of Hope through his…
I want to applaud our volunteers and staff for doing so many things well. One of the hardest things to do is to create a place for grief to be shared without needing to “fix” it. I’ve seen it happening throughout Legacy Retreats. Here is our…
In February 2014, Carol Lacert accompanied her daughter Marci Guay and granddaughter Hannah Guay to an Inheritance of Hope Legacy RetreatⓇ in Orlando. At the time, Marci, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, was enjoying good health, but like many of our…
If a picture is worth a thousand words, Hannah Black’s smile says it all. Hannah with her beautiful art. Hannah recently sold her artwork and donated all proceeds to Inheritance of Hope in memory of her mother Laura. Hannah knows all too well the challenges IoH…
There’s something about childhood that, even in old age, people find reassuring. The nostalgia and sweet memories of looking back at a simpler time in your life are priceless, and remain treasures for a lifetime. So, often times, when people imagine a 12-year-old…
Favorite TV show: Fresh Prince of Bel Air (favorite actor: Will Smith!) Favorite board game: Settlers of Catan States I’ve been to, in the past 2 years: Florida, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas, New York, Colorado, Utah, Nebraska, Iowa, South Carolina, North…
Dillon Padgett, veteran Legacy Retreat volunteer, has recently joined the Inheritance of Hope team in a staff role. The self-described first-time “accidental volunteer” has now logged six retreats. His introduction to serving at Legacy Retreats was in the Spring of…
Taylor Ethridge pauses as she thinks over a question. The Community Outreach and Event Planner for Kendra Scott Orlando is being interviewed about her recent experience volunteering at an Inheritance of Hope Legacy Retreat®. She is not getting off easy, “Can you…
The baby in our logo is all grown up. The “o” in hope is based on a photo of the Milligan children Most of us in the Inheritance of Hope family are familiar with Rebecca Milligan, the youngest child of Co-Founders Deric and Kristen Milligan. Just seven months old when…
Angie Howell first volunteered for Inheritance of Hope in 2012 and has been involved ever since. “Like most volunteers,” she says, “I knew I would come back!” Angie was introduced to IoH by her former Davidson College classmate, Co-Founder Kristen Milligan. Kristen…
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…