Inheritance of Hope Stories
Anna contacted me last January. She said she was interested in running the Disneyland Half Marathon, September 2, 2012 to support Inheritance of Hope. Team IOH does not participate as a team in the Disneyland Half but Anna still wanted to raise funds and run the…
USA TODAY’s Nashville music critic Brian Mansfield was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 48. He now chronicles his life with the disease – and with only a small part of his colon – in a series of weekly installments. Below is a segments from a…
Today we pause to honor the memory of our friend Gerry Moors. Gerry, of Pine Bush, NY, died on August 25 at the age of 78. He had been diagnosed with mesothelioma lung cancer in September 2009. Along with his wife, Joan, and his daughter, Maryalice, Gerry organized…
The Conti family of New York still looks at their photo album from the Inheritance of Hope Legacy Retreat at Disney World in January 2011. “I’ve even looked at it just recently,” said Angela, 45. “We still cry over it, but it’s happy tears now because my husband…
“Show kindness whenever possible. Show it to the people in front of you, the people coming up behind you, and the people with whom you are running neck and neck. It will vastly improve the quality of your own life, the lives of others, and the state of the…
Larry Lanham, his wife, Michelle, and daughters Madison and Maggie raise sheep and cattle on their 38-acre farm in Corbin, Kentucky. Larry has worked the same job providing housing for the elderly for 26 years. However, the last five years have been anything but…
I was once asked in a job interview what the quote I live by was and my answer was the poem “Don’t Quit.” I was thinking of the attendees of the May Retreat and realized how fitting this is for all of them. I think this is especially true for the…
Before last summer, neither 17-year-old Seth nor his 13-year-old sister, Mandie, had ever been on an airplane. Yet in June of last year, the entire Felker family from Alliance, a small town in northwest Nebraska, boarded a plane to Disney World in Orlando, where they…
A few weeks ago we returned from the May 2012 retreat in Orlando, Florida. This was a special retreat for me because it was the first time I was able to invite a family I knew personally to come on a retreat & see them be cared for & enjoy a few days…
With 16 families eagerly and nervously getting ready to head to Orlando in the next day or so, much is being anticipated and much is unknown. This trip will changes lives, not only the lives of the families that are attending the retreat, but also the lives of…
Like the video? Use the tools above or below to share on Facebook, Twitter, and more! Exodus 10:9 – “We will go with our young and our old, with our sons and our daughters, and with our flocks and herds, because we are to celebrate a festival to the LORD.” Today…
Monday, May 21st will be the 5th birthday for Inheritance of Hope! Don’t miss the release of a special video on the website on Monday – www.inheritanceofhope.org! It only takes a seed . . . That is exactly the way Inheritance of Hope started –…
Inheritance of Hope will be celebrating its 5th birthday next Monday, May 21st! I have watched the growth of Inheritance of Hope and its subsequent outreach to 99 families since its inception in 2007. I have watched my friends, Deric and Kristen Milligan,…
The Blevinses are made of tough stuff. Jeff, 40, moved from central Indiana to Nashville 20 years ago to start a music career and builds his own radios, and 37-year-old Deana came from Kentucky to work at Vanderbilt University. Hours away from the nearest family…
The New York Road Runner’s have chosen Team IOH to be a part of the 2012 ING NYC Marathon charity program. With the 5 spots awarded, the Team IOH goal is to raise at least $50,000 (each team member with a goal of $10,000), which will send 10 families on the NYC…
It’s that time of year to start thinking about a training plan for your summer or fall race. Training for a race can often be extreme… like, going out on a 20 mile run on a Saturday morning … or, swimming a mile and then jumping on your bike…
I am not a very fast typist. However, to my children (ages 10 and 8) I am a superstar typist. When my children walk into the room and I am working on my computer they usually comment on how fast my fingers are moving on the keyboard. They are amazed at the clicking…
The Heinzelman family attended Inheritance of Hope’s first Legacy Retreat, which took place at Lake George, New York, in the summer of 2008. Three and a half years later, the family has fond memories of the weekend. Yet the Heinzelmans are getting by without…
Imagine pinching your nose shut and breathing only through a coffee straw. “It feels like you have asthma and emphysema,” said M’Leigha Graham. The average human trachea, the windpipe that carries air to the lungs, is 15-20 millimeters wide. When…
The NYC Half Marathon is coming up on March 18. (We still have a few bibs left if you would like to join us!) As a race approaches, I often ponder how important the runners are to our organization. The funds raised by our runners are critical to sustaining and…
We are just a few days away from Valentine’s Day, the holiday of LOVE. When I think of parents & kids… I think “Love is Listening”. Many of you just returned home from the latest retreat in Orlando. Some of you have attended past retreats….
In just one week 16 families and 34 staff/volunteers will meet in Orlando for an amazing Inheritance of Hope Legacy Retreat. We will travel from Florida, Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado, Michigan, Kansas, New York, Georgia,…
Team IOH participated in the Disney Marathon Weekend last weekend in Orlando, FL. Runners participated in the marathon, half-marathon, Goofy’s challenge and the 5K. Today, Kasandra Spears will tell us of her family’s experience in participating in the…
I have a great job. I get to meet beautiful families that are faced with some difficulties and plan a dream vacation for them. The absolute BEST part of my job is the phone call when I tell them it is their turn to go on this dream vacation. Many people cry….
Team IOH will be represented in four of the five 2012 Disney Marathon weekend events coming up this weekend! We are excited that an IOH family that attended the November 2010 NYC Legacy Retreat will be participating in the 5K! The Spears family will be running…
This time of year most of us are very blessed to spend a lot of time with our families. Sometimes this is the only time of year we get to see some of them. It is always one of my favorite things about the holiday season. I love hanging out with my parents and…
I recently received an email that linked to an article called “50 Economic Numbers That Are Almost Too Crazy To Believe”. The article was a slide show with captions covering how badly (even worse than we think) the economy is performing ranging from…
I feel extraordinarily thankful to be here this Christmas with my husband and my children. There was a moment a few months ago when I wasn’t sure … so much so that my Christmas shopping was complete in early September. I love that I will be here on…
I’ve been a member of the 2011 NYC Legacy Retreat Fans Group these past few days. This group was set up in the IOH Community on the Inheritance of Hope website to follow the ‘latest’ as the Legacy Retreat unfolded. Sixteen families from across the…
Tonight everyone enjoyed a night out! Even the rain couldn’t damper our delight to head out on the town. All of the parents were given gift cards to eat at a fancy New York City restaurant. They were thrilled to have a nice evening just as adults, but not as…
This morning it is a little bit cooler and cloudy in the Big Apple. Most of the families were a little later down to breakfast this morning, feeling the tiredness from an amazing a busy day yesterday. After filling their bellies with the Novotel’s…
What an amazing night! Following a scrumptious dinner at the Hotel Novotel we took a 3 block walk to Radio City Music Hall. All of the families were super excited to see the show. The show started with a 3D movie experience and moved into a kick line. The Rockettes…
Today has been a great day! The weather has been fantastic and all the families are enjoying each other and New York City. This morning’s blog update proved to be an accurate description of everything we have done. In other words, everything has gone according…
The day started early for many of the families attending the 2011 New York City Legacy Retreat. Some of them even started their travels yesterday to get to Manhattan for their Inheritance of Hope Retreat. For many it was their first time flying in an airplane. …
Last weekend, Team IOH participated in the 2011 Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC. Runners from 24 states and Canada joined forces to raise over $100,000 to support the mission of Inheritance of Hope! Specifically, these donations will be used to fully fund…
This past weekend was an incredible memory for me! I completed my first marathon with an amazing group of people. We all ran to support Inheritance of Hope. We ran so that families with young children who have a parent facing a life-threatening illness can…
The Fields family from Vicennes, Indiana, had plenty of challenges already. Lisa had been battling a kidney disease and diabetes, and her 14-year-old son Isaac was diagnosed with kidney disease. Then Ollie found himself unable to continue driving trucks and left his…
Recently I saw this cartoon and it really made me laugh. What a silly expression of a phrase that we use often for encouragement and strength for those we care about. I remember (way back) in high school when I first heard this phrase and some tough guys were…
I have been training for a marathon for the past several months. It has been long, hard work for me. I have never enjoyed running and never thought I would be participating in any sort of race, let alone a 26.2 mile one! One of the places that I have been doing most…
Written By: Jill Thompson I am enthusiastic about Inheritance of Hope! My enthusiasm began when it was first founded and has continued as my involvement has grown. When my best friend, Kristen Milligan, called me in 2003 to share her diagnosis of terminal liver…
Tammy Johnston is a member of the Team Inheritance of Hope 2011 Marine Corps Marathon team. Tammy has run the Los Angeles marathon and will share about her marathon experience. Thank you Tammy! First off I am not a runner. Some people are, I am not one of them. I…
I cannot believe I will be running 26.2 miles in just 1 month. It is something I never thought I would do. I have been training with an amazing team for the past several months, most of whom I have never met. There are, however, a few people who I know really well…
Two years ago, my four boys ages 8-15 knew nothing about cancer. The oldest 3 had been to Haiti numerous times and had begun at young ages to grasp poverty, political corruption, and the need to work for change, but they were unfamiliar with cancer. Little did I…
Shari Elliot and her husband Rob are self-described Google researchers. The couple living in Bradenton, Fla. browses message boards and networks with cancer patients. Both veterans of the medical industry, they are not afraid to look up scientific journals and read…
I will be introducing you to Team Inheritance of Hope Athletes – today and in future posts – through the athlete’s own words. Grace Gerdin is running with the Team IOH 2011 Marine Corps Marathon team. Read what Grace says inspires her…
Team Inheritance of Hope has many planned endurance events throughout the year. You may be asking how you can get involved. We are always looking for athletes to join our team! The concept behind being a member of Team Inheritance of Hope is this: athletes commit to…
Today, you can read a brief explanation of what athletes learn when seeking to join Team Inheritance of Hope. Team Inheritance of Hope (a.k.a. Team IOH) exists to raise funds and awareness for Inheritance of Hope. As an athlete with Team Inheritance of Hope, you can…
After writing my blog post last week, The Gift of Life (a story about my husband’s kidney transplant 4 years ago), I came up with this idea to ask my husband to write a little blog about his experience. Tony said he would be happy to do just that. What he…
“I’ve got a different perspective,” Tom Dodd said. The engineer from Seneca, S.C. became a widower almost three years ago. Dodd and his two adopted sons moved closer to his parents, took a new job and remarried after the loss. He received support from friends and…
What do you do to “re-charge” your battery? Do you read a book, take a nap, go for a walk, hang out with friends, eat a big bowl of ice cream, write in a journal, plan a party? I know for each person it is so different. If you are an introvert you…
In 2001, I was diagnosed with life-threatening cancer. Six years later, after I had regained my strength, my husband went into kidney failure and was in need of a kidney transplant. It was this past week in 2007 that my husband received a kidney from a wonderful…
There are so many great races in the fall. From 5Ks to Marathons, what you wear has a big impact on your performance. From shoes to hats, it is good practice to plan your race day wardrobe weeks before the race… I’m not an expert on shoes and clothing…
My father-in-law is a Chaplain in the Air National Guard. He is currently deployed to Manas, Krygystan where he is serving at the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Chapel. This Transit Center ministers to many permanent party staff and also to hundreds of service men and…
Today I was speaking with one of our Marine Corps Marathon runners about what to eat for optimal strength, energy and recovery when training and racing. She mentioned she eats quite healthy – lots of raw food and lean cuts – but she wanted to know if…
My oldest, 9-year-old Elizabeth, has always loved horses. She even chose to have a horse-themed birthday party when she turned 6 years old. Despite her love for horses, she has never actually ridden a full-size horse. Well, this summer Adam and I decided she was old…
As the sun rose on the morning of July 3, Cheryl and Matt Broyles were climbing Half Dome in Yosemite National Park with their two sons: Grant, 14, and 12-year-old Clint. Gripping the cables that assist climbers on their ascent, the family enjoyed a majestic view…
When a runner hears that the marathon race he registered for is 16 weeks out, bells and whistles sound in his most inner-being. If he hasn’t already, this will be the week that he begins his marathon training plan. I ran my first marathon in 2007 – the…
We’ve all heard the African Proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” As a mother I recognize the truth in this statement as my children have benefitted greatly from the direction, discipline, encouragement and wisdom of many different people…
What does a Legacy Retreat “look” like? What is the importance of a legacy? You might be wondering what Inheritance of Hope is all about… A legacy can either be positive or negative. We are all in the process of leaving a legacy – whether we…
After the morning sessions, the families headed back into the parks… Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom were particularly popular today, with Expedition Everest and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin among the favorite rides. This evening, many parents…
(written by Children’s Counselor, Meg Hill) This morning the kids’ counseling sessions included many awesome activities, one of which I can’t share with you because it is TOP SECRET! But I will tell you that our topic today was how to deal with…
What a wonderful memorable first day!!! Everyone woke up and had an amazing delicious breakfast and superb service at the Doubletree Guest Suites…we are sort of celebrities here :). After breakfast we had great sessions with the children as well as the adults. …
The weather was perfect for the 2nd Annual Gerry Moors Golf Outing held at Winding Hills Golf Course on June 18, 2011. 46 golfers hit the links as the Moors family hosted this fun event to benefit Inheritance of Hope… The sun was shining, the temperature was…
I spend a lot of my time these days out at a baseball field cheering on my seven year old son and his all-star team, the Stingrays. I enjoy watching them play and cheering them on. One thing I do NOT enjoy is the unbearable heat that comes with June in Atlanta, GA….
What do Oprah, Drew Carey and Kristen Milligan all have in common? Answer: they all have, or will, participate in a Marine Corps Marathon endurance event. Oprah ran an impressive 4:29:15 MCM in 1994, Drew participated in the MCM Historic Half Marathon this past May,…
I live in Atlanta, Georgia. Home of the Braves, high temperatures, and southern hospitality. I love hospitality! In fact, I think if you quiz my closest friends and relatives they would tell you that hospitality is in my blood. I enjoy having guests in my home for…
To help remove surface bacteria from produce, including e.coli bacteria, you can follow this simple method of washing your produce… Olin Idol (ND, CNC), offers this easy method: Thoroughly washing our produce by a two step process using two spray bottles, one…
I don’t know what we did before GPS navigation. Now we just punch in an address and go. My family even gave our system a name…”Smart Sally”. We actually stole that name from another family but we like it so it stuck. Smart Sally has led us…
There are numerous runners throughout the US that have been continuously running for years – many over thirty years. They are men and women that run at least 1 mile every day of every week of every year. Mark Washburne, a 55 year old college professor from New…
30 days from today Inheritance of Hope will be welcoming 16 families from all over the country to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida for a trip of a lifetime!!! As I get to know these families, I am amazed at some of the similarities. In my mind I already see the…
People sometimes ask Natasha Elliott how she manages to do it all: care for her ailing husband and 10-year-old son while pursuing a graduate degree in nursing. Natasha, 27, said those who don’t know Mike, her husband of six years, don’t understand their marriage and…
When I consider purchasing something new whether it be a camera, television, car minivan, or refrigerator I find myself asking everyone I know for their opinion. I also have been know to search online for reviews and comments to help me make my decision. This also…
So…listen to this conversation from the backseat of my minivan the other day. Elizabeth: “Do I have any money in the bank?” Me: “Yes, it is for college.” Elizabeth: “I plan on working really hard at the piano and soccer so I can…
This past week, I celebrated my 50th birthday, and to my amazement it was quite exciting… I had thought I would dread leaving my 5th decade to enter my 6th … but, to my surprise, I feel a spring in my step and see life has the potential to be quite a bit…
I am proud to be a stay at home mom. Over the past 9+ years in this role, I can honestly say I have kept very busy managing my home and raising my kids. The past year and a half have been different with both kids in school all day, but I still manage to keep my days…
I value life greatly. Hopefully, you do too. There is no question the life we have here on earth is often times far too short whether it is 40 years or 99. It seems like, more often then not, we spend more time contemplating what we are going to make for dinner or…
I am not a runner!!!! There is no question about that. I actually have said, “One thing I will NEVER do in my life is a marathon….I have no desire!” I do, however, have several friends who have committed to running marathons for Inheritance of…
No one has won the NYC Full Marathon as many times as Grete Waitz. Waitz, 57, died this past Tuesday in Oslo, Norway. Grete had been diagnosed in 2005 with cancer. She never revealed publicly the kind as she didn’t want to put too much focus on herself and the…
Kristi and Mike DeCourcey are sun children of southern California, where movie sets and glistening beaches meet an unforgiving desert. Don’t get the wrong idea; neither lives a celebrity lifestyle. Kristi, 44, grew up in the Hacienda Heights community of Los Angeles…
I am in love…..have been for quite some time. Actually July 11th 2005 was the date we first met and it was NOT love at first sight. It was a practical relationship. My sleek trendy stylish Acura SUV had kind of died so… My man pulled in the driveway with…
We went over to some friend’s home the other night for dinner. My husband and I both agreed that the meal was awesome so I requested the recipe from my friend. Well, I don’t know what this says about me as a person but, I did not just make the meal for my family and…
Team Inheritance of Hope had a strong showing in the 2011 NYC Half Marathon. 21 runners raised over $35,000 to support young families with a parent experiencing a life-threatening illness. The March 20th race was a culmination of months of fundraising and training…
It is believed that a traveler once told the early American novelist James Fenimore Cooper, upon visiting Lake George and the Adirondack Mountains in 1824, “that here was the very scene for a romance.” Two years later, Cooper wrote his most famous novel, The Last of…
Three days ago we arrived as virtual strangers, and now we are saying goodbye to wonderful friends. There is no doubt everyone involved in this 2011 Disney Legacy Retreat, from staff and volunteers to family members, is leaving this weekend changed. Tommy Booth said…
This post was authored by Inheritance of Hope volunteer Mary Finch. Today the families got to explore the Disney Parks once again. Some chose to see wildlife in Animal Kingdom while others chose to check out the classics in the Magic Kingdom. Either way, a fun…
It’s a great day in Orlando Florida. The sun is shining. The temperatures are in the 70s. All of the families and volunteers are well-rested after a good night’s sleep. We met for breakfast this morning and then had a counseling session, followed by…
Everyone has arrived! The weather in Orlando today was absolutely gorgeous. The sun was shining and the temperatures were in the 60s and 70s. We were so excited to welcome families from Michigan, Iowa, Ohio, New York, California, North Carolina, Missouri, Illinois,…
As the year is winding down to a close, and Christmas will soon be here, it’s a great time to reflect on 2010 accomplishments and 2011 goals. It’s also an opportunity to express my gratitude towards all who were involved in Team Inheritance of Hope events…
It is hard to believe we have only known each other 3 days. These past few days have really bonded us all together in such a wonderful and special way. The children created some very special relationships with our volunteers and staff. I heard more then one of them…
The weather continued to amaze us all day today as the temperatures remained around 60 degrees all afternoon and evening. The families walked about 4 blocks to Radio City Music Hall after lunch and enjoyed the legendary Christmas Spectacular Show featuring the…
Today was an amazing day! We kicked off this morning with a yummy breakfast at the Hotel Novotel enjoying the view of Times Square as we munched on french toast, eggs, bacon, sausage, muffins and fruit. The Elliott boys were particularly thrilled at the large…
Times Square was hopping tonight! After our meeting time together we headed down to Times Square Hard Rock Cafe and it was the place to be!!! There were people everywhere. Many of us got to see ourself on the HUGE electronic billboard as we walked through the…
Today the Inheritance of Hope volunteers and staff have visited LaGuardia, JFK and Newark airports and welcomed 7 families from Florida, West Virginia, Oregon, Utah, Texas, and Georgia. We are pleased to share that all the families arrived on time and with all their…
This past weekend, Team Inheritance of Hope members participated in the 35th running of the Marine Corps Marathon. The weekend began on Friday, with Inheritance of Hope hosting a booth at the Marine Corps Marathon Expo held at the Walter E. Washington Convention…
Most of my days are spent planning, coordinating and thinking about the upcoming Legacy Retreat in New York City. I am very excited to meet these 9 families and I am excited for them to meet each other. I was privileged to meet one of the families (pictured above)…
I was watching a movie with my son this week….The Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian. There is a climactic moment in the movie when the Narnians are fighting the Telmarines and things are not going well for the good guys. King Peter makes the decision to pull…
The clock is ticking. The Chicago Marathon is in 3 days. 18 weeks of training are behind me – I ran my last training run this morning – a 2 miler. It is a great feeling to know that I have finished my preparation for this Sunday. I have completed my…
As I sit by my computer, thinking about the above question, I wonder what could have possibly motivated me to run another marathon? Because I’m asking myself this question, I realize that my 20 mile run this Friday is weighing heavy on my mind! I have…
When my gas light comes on I know I have another 60 miles (at least!) until I will run out of a gas. I tend to push that limit and have been known to be a little risky when it comes to keeping my tank filled. My husband, on the other hand, rarely lets his gas tank…
Soccer season is in full swing in my life right now. Most of my days are spent in a black canvas fold-up chair next to a huge field of grass. I have learned a few lessons from my days at the soccer field. If you try to play offense and defense at the same time,…