Our Mission:
To be established as a leader in providing support, education, advocacy and hope to all children and their families affected by childhood cancer in Oregon and SW Washington.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Portland Metro
Sept. 4th to 6th: Candlelighters Family Camp – Camp Harlow/Eugene
September 8th: Lunch at Emanuel – Inpatient and Clinic Families – 12:00/noon to 1:30 p.m.
September 11th: Latino Family Support Group – Augustana Lutheran Church – 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
September 13th: Portland Family Support Group – First United Methodist Church – 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
September 15th: Dinner at Doernbecher – Inpatient Families – 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
September 23rd: Education Program – Fairfield Inn & Suites, Lake Oswego – 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
September 25th: Candlelighters Family Event – Enchanted Forest – 10:00 a.m.
Mid-Willamette Valley
September 14: Mom’s Night Out – Olive Garden
Central Oregon
September 18th: Shane’s Walk
September 24: Teen Event – TBA
FOR INFORMATION ON EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES GO TO THE EVENTS CALENDAR PAGE OR CONTACT DENISE HARTUNG AT: candlelightersactivities@gmail.com
Ride For A Child, David’s Tribute – written by Dick Hartung
As I write this article, only a scant ten weeks separates our Ride For A Child team from the hills and valleys of a 450-mile week on Cycle Oregon. Though our team boasts a few type A riders, whose training and fundraising is signed, sealed and delivered, most of us fall into the “procrastinator” category. In other words, ten challenging weeks lie in front of us. There are miles to train, and lots of fundraising to accomplish. Each rider has pledged to raise $2,500, and the experts tell us to train a minimum of 1,000 miles before asking our aging bodies to ride 70 miles per day, day in and day out, for a week. Did I mention there would be both HILLS and valleys on Cycle Oregon? When you consider the goals as a team, our fifty riders expect to log at least 50,000 miles of training and our goal is to raise $125,000 in support of Candlelighters programs and services. Just putting those goals on paper makes me nervous. Yeah, I think it is fair to say we have a few challenges in front of us.However, tonight I ponder a much different and relentless challenge. Today our team received the news that our honored child, six year-old David, has passed away. Our team has known David and his family only a few short months. In that short time, David has become our teammate, our friend, our hero. David’s story has elicited in me all the suppressed emotions of my own battles with losing a child to cancer. Our children are our most precious gift. They are innocent and kind, they continue to smile and bring healing in troubled times, and their grace and courage are renewing.David, to his family and now to his team, was all this and more. Because of David, we can easily put aside our trite challenges. We can recognize the real challenges of life, like battling through childhood cancer. If I was tending toward complacency, I am now renewed. David has handed me the baton to continue the race, to lend my time and resources to Candle-lighters so that other children and families can be comforted through their programs and services.I, for one, will be a better per- son for knowing David. He will ride with me this summer and fall through Oregon’s beautiful landscape. David, we love you. Your battles are won. We wish for you peace and rest in your Father’s arms.
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