Kids Helping Kids

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Trish

For children with cancer or other serious illness, life as they knew it is over. Instead of happy, carefree childhoods, there are days filled with pain, isolation, treatment, and the knowledge of “can’t do this” and “can’t do that.” Not a great way to go through the first two decades of life.

There is one thing that gives sick children the chance to escape the misery of illness: a summer vacation at Camp Simcha or Camp Simcha Special. These wonderful camps, run by Chai Lifeline, give kids the chance to just be children once again. Every summer, more than 400 kids and teens get to play ball, go swimming and boating, exercise their creativity, and make friends with others also living with health challenges. They are no longer sick, they’re just kids. When they leave camp, they go home with friends and memories that will last them throughout the year and give them the will to keep fighting.

Because we believe so strongly in Chai Lifeline’s work, B and I have joined Tour de Simcha. We plan to raise over $5,000 together and we hope you will help us reach this goal by making a small tax-deductible donation of $100. Your support is a critical part of this effort and I know that together we can make a difference to these children. All donations are 100% tax-deductible and the Tour de Simcha website makes donations quick, easy, and secure. Click on the “contact us” link to the right, and we’ll send you the link!

We’ve been training and raising funds for the past few months and the big ride is on Tuesday, July 7th! B has made a lovely video that she would love to see go viral! After viewing her video, please take a moment to share it with others so we can reach as many people as possible in the next few days.

Day 690: Onward, to Illinois

Posted on June 28, 2015 by Ben

Shabbos was peaceful at the Verona Airport. We didn’t see a single plane come or go, unfortunately.

This morning it was too windy to fly, so we did homeschool and then drove south, passing through the town of Brodhead where we visited with family:

We then continued on to overnight at the Walmart of DeKalb, Illinois. See the trip map for today’s drive and our current location.

Day 688: Madison to Verona

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Ben

Today we spent the day with Uncle Dennis and Grandma DiAnn, then said our goodbyes and drove south to Verona, Wisconsin. We received permission from the airport manager to overnight here through Sunday morning. The weather is too stormy to fly today, but hopefully on Sunday it will be better.

Here’s the view from the intersection of the two runways, looking west. The RV is parked next to the hangar building on the right:

Good Shabbos from the Verona Airport! See the trip map for today’s drive and our current location.

Day 687: Visiting the Wisconsin State Capitol

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Ben

The kids have really run Uncle Dennis’ pets ragged. It looks like Jack is pooped:

Today we headed downtown for a tour of the Wisconsin Capitol with Uncle Dennis, Grandma DiAnn, and Tricia’s sister:

B was given the job of using a laser pointer to indicate for the rest of the tour group a fossil in one of the stone steps:

The hearing room:

The Supreme Court chamber

The Senate Chamber:

The State Assembly chamber:

We climbed a couple flights of stairs and a narrow spiral staircase to reach the walkway that circumnavigates the exterior of the building:

After we returned to Uncle Dennis’ house, the kids played with his pets:

Trish had a great time playing saxaphone with Uncle Dennis for several hours. She brought her mouthpiece on this trip for just this occasion. Uncle Dennis had a saxaphone for her to use. They sounded great!