What wouldn't you do, given a chance, for kids who suffer from cancer? That chance arises this Saturday, March 5 with the Share Your Heart Ball at the Limelight Room in the Sun Valley Inn. Partially underwritten by Ketchum-based Cancer Consultants Inc. the third annual event benefits the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Idaho and the American Cancer Society's Camp Rainbow Gold.
Among the many people, both in Boise at Make-a-Wish and in the valley, who volunteer to make this event, two of the year's best are Kris and Rob Cronin of Hailey.
The Cronins are board members of Camp Rainbow Gold, a free weeklong summer camp on the Big Wood River north of Ketchum for Idaho children diagnosed with cancer. The Share Your Heart Ball and other fund-raising activities have turned the camp from an on-a-wing-and-a-prayer venture to one that will successfully exist for many years thanks to a burgeoning endowment fund.
According to the American Cancer Society, there were 120 new Idaho children diagnosed with cancer in 2004. Approximately 80 of those are brain cancer cases being treated through Boise's Mountain States Tumor Institute that, in turn, sends them to Camp Rainbow Gold.
"We may be expecting the biggest camp ever this summer," Kris Cronin said. Her husband agrees and noted that they are actively looking for land upon which to build a new, larger camp. Currently, the summer program is held at Cathedral Pines Baptist Camp.
"We need it for the expanded programs and to expand camp in general," Cronin said. "We refuse to turn any child away. We've had offers of land but they're too far away."
The camp must be somewhat near a hospital. When it began over 20 years ago, the campers were in remission. Now, campers are often in the middle of chemotherapy. Blood is delivered every day to the camp while it is in session, and medical staff is always on hand.
Another reason is that "the Wood River Valley has adopted the camp. Our major funds and support come from people here," Cronin said.
Indeed, more than a hundred valley motorcycles stream north escorting campers to camp each summer, while residents in each of the towns they pass through wave and cheer them on.
The Share Your Heart Ball has become an integral part of Camp Rainbow Gold's success. This year, Hailey resident and Olympic medallist Debbie Macdonald is the keynote speaker. Macdonald was part of a Make-A-Wish grant for a young aspiring dressage rider from St. Louis.
Several campers are attending, including a foursome recreating their talent show performance from last summer as a mini-Kiss band.
"We're bringing a lot more elements of camp into this year's event," Kris Cronin said.
Artistic elements have been recycled from previous balls as the decorative theme returns to festive New Orleans.
"It's just going to be sensory overload," Kris Cronin said.
There is a Mardi Gras float, New Orleans street lamps, silent and live auctions, and the band Grooveline for entertainment."
Fittingly, Mardi Gras colors work well for giving to those less fortunate. Gold symbolizes power, purple stands for justice and green means faith.
"Sparkle, shimmer, crystal and glamour," is how Tina Quarles, decorating committee chair, described her vision. While she created custom tablecloths and hung huge glitter balls, Heidi Albrecht, her partner in the party decorating company "Eventful," kept things down to earth. She painted an elaborate New Orleans cobblestone pathway for the cocktail reception room, where appetizers are served and a new Harley-Davidson is displayed.
Wood River Fire and Rescue members are selling Harley raffle tickets, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 26 in the Albertsons' parking lot in Hailey.
The other decorating queens are Tiffany Lago, Christie Sutton and Angie Telford.
"We are the beads behind the Ball," Albrecht said. In fact, the use of balls and beads are a constant refrain from the duo. They are also incorporating huge photos of the campers that will float amidst the bounty.
A live auction keeps the balls rolling with items including an Extreme Home Remodel package with services and products donated by over 20 valley businesses; a week anywhere of your choice on a luxury yacht with crew; and two courtside seats at an L.A. Lakers game with transportation on a private jet and hotel accommodation. Talk about a ball.
"This community rocks," Kris Cronin said. "If we can do this every year, we can feel good about what we've done. It's the most fulfilling part of our life."
