Physical Health United States Project #17485

Make a Dream Come True for Someone with Epilepsy

by Chelsea Hutchison Foundation

Make a Dream Come True for Someone with Epilepsy

Project Report | May 22, 2017
Update from The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation

By Julie L Hutchison | President, Co-Founder and Chelsea's Mother

Every year, through Chelsea's Wish, we sponsor families who deal with the impact of seizures and epilepsy to participate in Epilepsy Awareness Expo and Day at Disneyland. This year, thanks to you and others like you, we are on track to be able to grant 10 families with wish trips. Half of these families will be single-parent families. These are not just a vacation, they are invaluable trips, where families have access to top professionals in the field, information on the latest treatment options - conventional and non-conventional, and the ability to meet with other families who are share similar worries, challenges and concerns. The bonds made between the families are as important as any information they come away with. There is a support system that forms between the families during their days at Disney that, last long after they return home. That sense of community has proven to be as valuable to our recipients, as the trip itself.

To date, we've provided 27 families with all-expense paid trips to particpate. We are currently accepting nominations. For more information on qualifications and how to nominate your family, please go Chelsea's Wish

In addition to our Global Giving projects, we raise funds year around through several events. Last month we held our 8th Annual Spring Gala Casino Royale Gala that proved to be a record breaker for us. We host Chelsea's Bingo in Aurora, Colorado on Sunday and Thursday evenings each week. It is a big job, but has proven to be a great fundraising tool for us. Epilepsy Awareness Day at Elitch Gardens take place in Denver on June 3. Also happening that day is the Purple Duck Chase. Anyone anywhere can sponsor ducks for $5 each or 5 for $20. Join in the fun!

Our 8th Annual STOMP Out Epilepsy and SUDEP Awareness Walks take place this September. For more information and locations nearby, click on the link.

The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation also provides grants for seizure-response dogs. We are proud to let you know that we just paid our 101st grant. In addition, we have provided 420 life-saving movement monitors across the United States.

Permalink

Feb 21, 2017
Update from The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation

By Julie L Hutchison | President, Co-Founder and Chelsea's Mother

Epilepsy Awareness Day at Disneyland

Thank you for your continued support of this program. We are so lucky to have your support. Please accept a huge "Thank you!" from all of us at The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation for your generous support.

To date, we have had the privilege of providing 25 families with all-expense paid trips to participate in Epilepsy Awareness Day at Disneyland and the one-of-a-kind Epilepsy Expo. The Expo offers a wealth of information - exposure to professionals, treatment options, education and hope. That alone is invaluable to our families - to have all of this available to them in one place. There is so much information under one roof - it's amazing! Many times their daily lives dealing with a child or loved one lving with epilepsy, not to mention those adults who have epilepsy, there is such isolation. Our Disney families meet and instantly bond with the other families who understand their struggles, the fear and the endless search for answers. This program within The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation is fondly called "Chelsea's Wish". Our goal for 2017 is to provide 10 families with trips so our fundraising efforts are in full force. We have many exciting events approaching that we'd love to share with you.

On June 3, 2017, the 2nd Annual Epilepsy Awareness Day at Elitch Gardens will take place. This event offers highly discounted admission tickets for those who wish to attend. We will paint this park with purple to raise some awareness and create community for those who feel so isolated living with an epilepsy diagnosis. We will also be holding the 2nd Annual Purple Duck Chase in Elitch Gardens Lazy River. Sponsor ducks from anywhere for a chance to win some wonderful prizes.

The 8th Annual STOMP Out Epilepsy and SUDEP Awareness Walk will take place in September. Stay tuned for a number of locations across the United States. If you aren't near one of our organized STOMPS, you can register as a virtual walker and STOMP in your own community. We will have more details in our next update.

Here are links to other fundraising pages we currently have on GlobalGiving.org. Please take a moment and check them out.

Seizure-Response Dogs

Movement Monitors

Weighted Blankets for Epilepsy Patients

As always, thank you for your continued support! Chelsea's work is reaching new levels and we are grateful to you for helping us!

CHF at the Expo

Chelsea's Wish

Permalink

Nov 23, 2016
Update from The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation

By Julie L Hutchison | President, Co-Founder and Chelsea's Mother

We are so lucky to have your support. Please accept a huge “Thank you!” from all of us at The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation (“CHF”) for your generous support. Your contribution has played an essential part in providing life-saving, hope-sustaining support to families across the country!

Earlier this month we hosted 13 families at Epilepsy Awareness Day at Disneyland, 7 of which all expenses were paid. This is not just a trip to Disneyland for these families, this is a life-changing experience which brings a much forgotten community together. These trips include an amazing Expo that offers a wealth of information - exposure to professionals, treatment options, education and hope. Having all of his available to them, in one place, is invaluable to our families.

Walking through those gates at Disneyland, there is purple everywhere - a virtual sea of purple! This visual impact is especially powerful to those that isolation strikes deep. It's a subtle - but very powerful message that is not lost on these families. "I'm not alone!" Lifelong friendships are made at these events.

One of our very favorite memories from this year is, while waiting in line for Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, one of our little guests, 5-year old Dominic, kissed his Mommy for the VERY FIRST TIME. Imagine the joy for this single-mother. We can’t make this stuff up!!!

The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation grants comfort and hope to those affected by epilepsy through providing monitoring resources, vital information, and a safe haven for conversation and community.

Our main goal is to raise awareness of SUDEP and to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and families living with epilepsy.

We raise funds to provide education about SUDEP and to provide seizure response dog grants and movement monitors that help to protect against SUDEP.

We stay up-to-date on current trends in medical technology in order to be able to provide the most effective devices as they become available.

We respect the value and quality of life of every person living with epilepsy.

We are dedicated to providing opportunities that allow individuals and families greater independence, increased confidence, ability to enjoy social environments, and community understanding.

Here are links to our other Globalgiving.org projects. We'd love you to take a look.

Seizure Response Service Dogs

Life-Saving Movement Monitors

Weighted Blankets

Your gift to the Chelsea Hutchison Foundation has kept us going on our mission to bring comfort and hope to individuals and families for whom struggling with epilepsy is a daily reality, and has allowed us to give relief directly to those who need it most. We are grateful, truly.

Warmly,

Permalink

‹ 1 ... 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.