Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

September will now forever be a month to  promote awareness of pediatric cancers and remember all those who lost their battle.  This September we are doing our part by organizing a fund raiser to help a local boy's family who is deep in battle, as we were this time last year.  Emilia is officially in remission for six months but is hoping that the momentum of our successful event last year can continue each year to help other families.
Have you read about Sean Bartolucci?  Earlier this year I received an email from a friend asking if she could give my number to this family because they just got a cancer diagnosis for their son and she thought they could use a contact who had experience in this overwhelming new world.  I exchanged a few emails with Michele, Sean's mom, but only met her months later at a kickball tournament fundraiser.  Though we had never met or even spoken on the phone, when I met her I hugged her and knew that we, like many cancer families, had a shared experience and understanding.  We are honored to be a part of Sean's healing and the family's support to get them through the next crucial part of treatment, a stem cell transplant.
Please check back for more information about Sean and to register for the 5K on November 8.
See you soon!
Natalie

link to register for 5K:
www.parunners.com/calendar/icalrepeat.detail/2014/11/08/547/-/helping-hands-4-emilia-fall-5k-run-walk.html

2014 5K announcement

We were so lucky to have such great community support last year, as evidenced by the amazing turnout we had at the Halloween Hustle.  Emilia wasn't able to be at the event last year since she was still recovering from surgery but this year she will be blowing the starting horn!!  Though Emilia is in remission she still wanted to have this race but her mission is to help another local family who is battling pediatric cancer. Sean Bartolucci is a 7th grader at Camp Hill Middle School  and we met him for the first time a few weeks ago.  The Bartolucci family has become very familiar with CHOP and Hershey, just like we did, and they can use some help to get through the next step of treatment, a stem-cell transplant.
All the proceeds of our race will benefit Sean and his family.  Support like this is what got us through the dark days and kept practical things going like bills, food and gas for the long trips back and forth from home to hospital.
Please join us for another great fall morning to help Sean and his family.  Mark your calendars, November 8 at 10:30 am.

Stay tuned for info on the 2014 5K

It's hard to believe a year has passed since Emilia was diagnosed with cancer, began treatment and Helping Hands 4 Emilia was formed.  We are in the planning stages of our second 5K so stay tuned for more details and mark your calendar for Saturday, November 8.  This year we will be having a Fall Fun Run with the theme of "In remission with a mission" since Emilia and HH4E want to help another family who is facing this fight.  More details to come on who that family is soon!
If you would like to be a sponsor please email helpinghands4emilia@gmail.com
 Thanks for checking in.

Emilia at the beach one year after diagnosis

Help Us Welcome Emilia Home After Her Final Chemo Treatment!

GREAT NEWS! Emilia and her family spent the weekend at Penn State THON and had a great time! EVEN BETTER NEWS! Emilia is currently in the hospital receiving her FINAL chemo treatment! What a long and hard road it has been for Emilia and her family. How grateful we are that she has successfully completed her treatment for Ewing's sarcoma! Thanks to each and every one of you for your prayers and support!

PLEASE HELP US WELCOME EMILIA HOME!! The Helping Hands for Emilia group, Emilia's family, and the entire community of Lemoyne, PA are joining forces to organize a HOMECOMING PARADE for Emilia and her family on Saturday, 3/1/14 at 11:00 AM, as Emilia arrives home from her final chemotherapy hospitalization. We would love for all of you to join us in lining the streets to surprise Emilia and celebrate her health! 

THIS IS A SECRET – we are trying diligently to ensure that Max and Emilia do not find out about this. Please make sure not to post anything to Instagram, and perhaps wait to tell your children. YOU CAN HELP by making signs or banners, bringing out noise makers, holding balloons and lining the streets to cheer on Emilia and the family as they pass by!! Please feel free to wear bright neon pink (Emilia’s favorite color), your Wiggity Wig Walk t-shirt, or your Helping Hands for Emilia t-shirt if you have one! PLEASE tell your neighbors and friends to stand on the parade route and cheer!! Even if they don't personally know Emilia, we would love to have lots of people showing support for Emilia and her family!

PLEASE NOTE: Emilia may not feel well and this may be overwhelming for her. Please do not stop by her home after the parade or line the streets close to their home, in order to give the family their privacy. Emilia will be recovering from a heavy chemo treatment and most likely will not feel very well.

PARADE ROUTE: The family will be traveling via local emergency service vehicles from Firestone Motors Trucking @ 330 Third Street, making a left onto Market St, a right on 7th Street, and then a left onto Ohio Ave.

THANK YOU for your support!!

Wow - Over 300!

We are so excited to announce that we have OVER 300 registered runners/walkers for our first Halloween Hustle 5K! We had hopes of reaching this number but didn't think we'd hit that mark. It's amazing to see how much support and love that has just poured out from this community and beyond. We've seen contributions coming in from out of state and it just goes to show how much people really care and want to support someone in need.

We will still take new registrations at the event, however we can't guarantee a t-shirt at this point.

A Huge Thank you to all of our runners & walkers that are planning on coming out Saturday. We have a lot of parents that have worked hard to make this event happen with long hours given towards making this a successful event. We have amazing contributors that have generously given to make this successful.

Are you ready to run or walk?

We are so excited that the Halloween Hustle is coming up this weekend! 

Wow, it's hard to believe that it's finally here! Everyone is ready to support Emilia by running/walking this 5K & getting together at Guilifty's Underground for the After Party!

Get on your crazy Halloween outfits, or at least Halloween Socks & running shoes and have fun at this candy-filled 5K! Remember the prize categories!

The online registrations will close tonight at midnight so that we can have registrations ready for Saturday. If you planned to join us for this, please come on out & register Saturday morning at 9AM! 5000 Ritter Rd, Mechanicsburg, PA

The After-Party has a $5 cover-charge to get in the door. This IS family friendly and we hope you all can come out and join us. There will be music you can enjoy, food & drinks that you can order (paid separately), and prizes you may win! Can you tell we're getting amped up for Emilia!!!!

Sign up for the 5K by Friday to save!

Don't forget to Sign Up online for the Halloween Hustle 5K Fun Run & Walk by this Friday to save with the Early Bird special pricing! 

• $25 Early Bird ticket price for 11 & up, $15 for 6-10 years old, 5 & under are free. 
• Guarantee your size for the Helping Hands 4 Emilia Halloween Hustle 5K Fun Run & Walk t-shirt! (T-Shirts are given for the paid tickets)
• After October 11th Regular tickets will be $30 & child tickets will be $20, 5 & under free. (t-shirts not guaranteed)

Sign up today!

If you want the early bird pricing, you can mail or drop off your payment and  registration form at the Mailroom Etc. in Lemoyne at the West Shore Plaza (near Karns)

Checks payable to "Helping Hands 4 Emilia" can be mailed to: Helping Hands 4 Emilia c/o Mailroom Etc. 1200 Market St Box 174, Lemoyne, PA 17043

We hope you can join us for this fun filled event. Kids of all ages will enjoy the candy throughout the course and the activities that are planned prior to the race. Don't forget we are having an AfterParty with The Jolly Goodfellas at Guillifty's. - even if you can't make it to the 5K, we hope you and your family will join us. See all the details on our Halloween Hustle 5K page.