Flapjack In Training

Children’s Cancer Connection presents the 2013 FIT (Flapjack in Training) Program! Together we can become more FIT, help put smiles on the faces of children fighting cancer and cross the finish line of Des Moines’ premier road races. Don’t give up on your New Year’s Resolutions, just give them more meaning.

 Learn more about the FIT Program at an information meeting on March 18^th from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at Jasper Winery (2400 George Flagg Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50321)

Join us for hors d’oeuvres, door prizes and a cash bar. Come learn why you would FIT in with us!

Camping the Night Away

The Second Annual Children’s Cancer Connection Big Event was held on Thursday, February 28. This year’s theme was Camping the Night Away, and centered around CCC’s flagship program Camp Heart Connection. From the location to the food, the theme of Camp Heart Connection was felt.

Over 230 guests filled the Sticks Design Warehouse in West Des Moines. They enjoyed camp themed food (smores popcorn and smoked pork sliders to name a few) while bidding on 74 silent auction packages and networking. This year for the first time a live auction component was added. A highlight of the live auction was the sponsorship of Camp Heart Connection cabins and campers!

Four special awards were presented to deserving individuals who have made an impact on Children’s Cancer Connection. Special considerations were made to be sure all of the individuals would be in attendance, without letting them know about the award. All were truly surprised and humbled by the awards. Congratulations to:

• Passion: Presented for Extraordinary Events by Friends – Big Wheel Rally
• Compassion: The MacDougall Award for Outstanding Volunteerism – Linda Roberts
• Strength: In Gratitude for Outstanding Corporate Philanthropy – Greenland Homes
• Understanding: In Gratitude for Outstanding Youth Philanthropy – Katelyn Cinnamon

A huge thanks to the Big Event – Camping the Night Away committee for helping with the event.

Additionally the night would not have been possible without our Sponsors:

• Presenting Sponsor: Midwest Heritage Bank
• Silver Sponsor: Affinity Credit Union
• Bronze Sponsors: NCMIC Group and Community State Bank
• Media Sponsors: Willis Auto Campus, Mediacom, and Cumulus

The Big Event – Camping the Night Away was a huge success raising $37,500 to benefit the programs and services provided by Children’s Cancer Connection to families in Iowa affected by childhood cancer.

Iowa Energy – CCC Family Outing

Our office was filled to the brim with families enjoying pizza and good company before heading to the Iowa Energy Game for a family outing on February 9.

Over 50 CCC family members were able to attend a pizza party hosted by Community State Bank at Children’s Cancer Connection’s office on Saturday, February 9. Everyone filled up on pizza and had a great time catching up with fellow CCC families.

After dinner everyone headed over to Wells Fargo Arena to watch the Iowa Energy take on Fort Wayne. A special thanks to the Ankeny and Des Moines Noon Rotary Clubs for sponsoring these tickets for our families!

Although the Iowa Energy lost 98-119, it was a great CCC family outing.

Camps Not Just for Kids

Survivorship Camp will be held Saturday, May 4 through Sunday, May 5 (with the option of arriving Friday, May 3) at the Y-Camp in Boone, IA. The weekend is an opportunity for survivors of childhood cancer, age 18-39, to share, learn, and socialize with other survivors.

This year’s theme will be Everyday’s a Holiday, so pack your favorite holiday attire and get ready for a weekend of catching up with old friends while making some new ones!

The cost to attend for the weekend is $25. This includes all meals, lodging, and activities. Financial assistance is available.

Register online at ChildrensCancerConnection.org/survivorshipcamp or call Channon at 515-243-6239 ext.3 with questions or to request a paper application.

Second Annual IRONGLUT

Dust off your bike for the second annual IRONGLUT on April 7. IRONGLUT is a fundraising spin-a-thon and century challenge that benefits Children’s Cancer Connection.

All money raised by this event will be given directly to the charity. The event will be a total of 6 hours in length. You may ride as long or as short as you want. Spin instructors will rotate throughout the entire event. Food and beverages will be available to all riders throughout the ride. Games, prizes, motivational speakers, and other entertainment will be provided. All registered riders will get a moisture wicking T-Shirt.

Time and Location:
Sunday, April 07, 2013 8:00 AM (Central Standard Time)
Ride starts at 8am and ends at 2pm. If you are bringing your own bike and trainer please show up at 7:30am.
Altoona Campus
1500 8th Street Southwest
Altoona, IA 50009
(515) 967-0788
www.altoonacampus.com

Cost:
Register March 1 to April 1 – $40
Register April 1 to day of event – $45
Register For IRONGLUT!

Team and Individual Riders:
Individual riders will be treated as a team of one. Each team will share a spin bike or they may ride their personal bikes on trainers. The team can decide how to divide up the 6 hours of riding between them. If you do not want to show up until closer to your ride time that is allowed. We understand that if you are riding last out of 6 team mates, you may not want to stand around for 5 hours waiting. You may come and go as you please. Other than that, enjoy your ride and have fun!

Century Challenge Details:
To be a part of the challenge you must bring your own bike and trainer. You must also have a cyclocomputer with sensor on rear wheel. You may need to move from your front wheel to the rear for the event. Once you have ridden a total of 100 miles, according to your cyclocomputer, you will receive an official IRONGLUT beer mug. You may rest and take breaks as often as needed. You can follow the ride being led by the spin instructors or just ride at your own pace to get your miles in. This ride is your own and completely up to you as to the level of difficulty.

Everyday’s a Holiday at Family Camp!

Join us for a weekend of fun at Children’s Cancer Connection’s spring family camp! The theme this year is “Everyday’s a Holiday” so pack your favorite holiday attire and get ready for a weekend the whole family will enjoy. Family Camp will be held from 7:00 p.m. on May 3 until 9:00 a.m. on May 5 at the Y-Camp in Boone, IA. If you cannot make the entire weekend but you don’t want to miss out on the fun, don’t stress! There are two options to choose from.

1. Option One: Whole Weekend — Your whole family can join us for a weekend of fun including: meals, activities, crafts and snacks. Cost – $60 / family
2. Option Two: Saturday Only — Your whole family can join us for crafts, activities, lunch and snacks on Saturday only. Cost – $30 / family

All registrations are due by April 1, 2013. Cabins and activities will be assigned as we receive registrations. Upon registration, you will receive a family camp information packet to complete and return so we can make your stay even more fun! Register Now!

If you have any additional questions, please contact Channon: (515) 243-6239 ext. 3 or Channon@ChildrensCancerConnection.org. Also, please contact Channon if you’d like to discuss financial assistance.

A Weekend to Remember

Join Children’s Cancer Connection for A Weekend to Remember, a program for families that have lost a child to pediatric cancer. This family camp will be held April 20-21 at the Y-Camp in Boone from 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 20 until 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 21.

The weekend camp is an opportunity to share, remember, and socialize with other families who have experienced the loss of a child. The cost is $25 for the weekend, which includes all meals, lodging, and activities.

All registrations are due by April 1. Cabins and activities will be assigned as we receive registrations. Register now!

If you have any additional questions, please contact Mark at 515.243.6239 ext. 1 or Mark@ChildrensCancerConnection.org. Also, please contact Mark if you’d like to discuss financial assistance.

Beat Cancer Today 2013 Gold Gala

Beat Cancer Today is hosting their 2013 Gold Gala, a fundraising event, on Saturday, February 16, 2013 at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown. The Gold Gala will benefit Children’s Cancer Connection as well as CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, and the University of Iowa Dance Marathon.

Beat Cancer Today is a group of devoted parents and friends whose lives have been touched by childhood cancer. What started as a great idea for a “game day” shirt in September 2009 has blossomed into an enthusiastic group that continually raises funds for children’s cancer programs and research.

Beat Cancer Today’s Gold Gala will feature live music by the Iowa City band Extra Credit Project, a silent auction, food and dessert stations, champagne toast, a live performance by the 2013 University of Iowa Dance Marathon Morale Captains and complimentary swag bags for every attendee. Silent auction packages include suite tickets to the September 31^st Iowa State vs. UNI football game, Principal Charity Classic Champions Club tickets, concrete services from Absolute Concrete and Manatt’s, Kosama memberships, and a one-on-one clinic with one of the top basketball skill trainers in the country, former Iowa State Cyclone point guard Lyndsey Medders Fennelly.

The evening’s program will also highlight Michaela Inman, an Ankeny middle school student who was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma in 2011. After chemotherapy and surgery Michaela is now living cancer free and has rallied her classmates to show their BEAT CANCER spirit at school by having custom t-shirts and bracelets printed in the Ankeny High School and Ankeny Centennial High School colors.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with the program and champagne toast at 7:15 p.m. and the Extra Credit Project beginning at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $35 per person and can be purchased at www.beatcancertoday.org.

We “Whiff It” for the Kids

The following blog was written by guest blogger and Whiff It Des Moines 2013 committee member, Chris Juhl. 

Whiff It Des Moines is a seminannual wiffleball tournament in the spring and fall where proceeds go to support local children’s charities.  In 2010 five friends decided to organize a tournament where teams can compete and socialize in a fun “tail-gate” like environment.  After organizing numerous fundraisers, we were looking for an unique event that would attract people beyond the typical bar-crawl, golf tournament, or softball tournament.  After competing in another wiffleball tournament we decided this was what we were looking for, so we took the challenge to take it to the next level, and “Whiff It” was born.

The 2013 Spring Classic will take place on Saturday May 4th at Campbell Park in Clive, IA, Registration is now available.  The cost for one co-ed team, of six to eight people (equal number of men and women alternate batting, see all the Whiffing Rules), is $200 (includes event t-shirt for each team member).  There are four guaranteed games, with round robin pool play in the morning and a seeded tournament starting around noon.  The event also has a home run derby and prizes from our generous sponsors, like The Keg Stand, Jethros BBQ, and Madhouse Brewery, handed out to the winners of the tournament and derby.  Around 100 people participate in this event, tailgating in the parking lot and cheering on friends, provides an environment for people to enjoy the day and support two worthy causes; Children’s Cancer Connection and the Kiwanis Miracle League.

We also have happy hour events throughout the year for teams to socialize and talk a little smack, follow us on Facebook (Whiff It Des Moines) and Twitter (@WhiffItDSM) for information about these events.  If you have any questions feel free to go to the website, www.whiffitdsm.com or e-mail us at whiffitdsm@gmail.com.  Help us beat our record of 20 teams this spring and get your friends together to come “Whiff It for the kids!”

Costume Bowl Recap

The annual Costume Bowl was held on January 26, at Merle Hay Lanes in Des Moines. There were 19 teams registered for this year’s Costume Bowl, which is the most there have ever been. Costumes included Austin Powers and Friends, a Barber Shop Quartet, Superheroes, and Richard Simmons, among many others. In addition to the evening of crazy costume bowling, event participants were also able to take part in a raffle for some great prizes!

“This year’s Costume Bowl was a great success! It was an evening of creative costumes and friendly competition. There were more teams registered this year than in any other! Next year’s goal is to fill the whole building,” said CCC Development Coordinator, Kirbie Totten.