For the week of Dec 31, 2002 - Jan 7, 2003

New event to 
benefit ill children

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

Never one to rest on their laurels or seasonal restraints, Rob and Chris Cronin, counselors and board members of Camp Rainbow Gold, have announced a mid-winter event to benefit both the camp and the Idaho chapter of the "Make-a-Wish" foundation.

"Share Your Heart Ball," will be held at Sun Valley’s indoor ice rink on Feb. 22, at 6 p.m. There will be a live and silent auction, a sit down dinner and dancing.

The Cronins are the co-chairs of the event committee. They hope it will become an annual benefit ball.

"The partnership is a match made in heaven. A lot of our kids have been through the "Make-A-Wish" program," Cronin said.

One such Rainbow Gold camper, Hailey resident, George Linev, who will be a counselor in training next summer, received a Les Paul guitar. Another camper received money to help refurbish a hot-rod.

On hand for the event will be World Cup Champ and Paralympic medallist Muffy Davis, who is the Idaho spokesperson for the "Make-A-Wish" foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.

Camp Rainbow Gold operates in the summer at Cathedral Pines Baptist Camp, 14 miles north of Ketchum. Idaho children, who have been diagnosed with cancer, spend a week fishing, rafting, hiking, biking and enjoying the company of dedicated counselors, like the Cronins, and other children who are in similar situations. In operation for 20 years Idaho’s American Cancer Society and Boise’s Mountain States Tumor Institute operate the camp.

Money raised from the ball will help to fund wishes, which cost a minimum of $5,000, as well as contribute to the $50,000 that it costs to operate Camp Rainbow Gold each summer for nearly 75 children.

"Make-A-Wish" has 37 wishes pending just in Idaho, for which funding is needed.

The ball committee is accepting donations for the auctions, which will be handled by emcee par excellence Larry Flynn. They already have packages donated such as a $12,000 piece of custom of furniture from Country Living, a fantasy football weekend which will include a weekend in San Francisco, a hotel room and field passes to a football game. The women’s clothing store in Sun Valley Panache has donated a $1,000 gift certificate, which might be combined with a day at a spa.

"We also want to drum up some corporate sponsorship," Cronin said.

Tickets for the Share Your Heart Ball—$125 per person, sponsorship levels range from $1,500, $3,000 and $5,000—are available by calling 877-405-WISH, or 208-342-8982.

 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.