Caleb's Carnival - THANK YOU!

Caleb’s Carnival was a huge success, and there are so many people who made it possible. We wanted thank all of the volunteers who donated their time before and during the event to keep things running smoothly. We also wanted to thank the following organizations for their generosity:
Anthony's
Applebees
Army Navy Store
Auto Zone
Biscotti's Family Winery
Buffalo Wild Wings
Cable Suite 541/Pat Williams Show - Coverage
Carnivals 4 a Cause
Charisma Brands ( Marie Osmand Doll Collection)
Chop's
City Center Garden Market
Clear Channel Radio - Coverage
Cleveland Cavaliers
Community Auto Center
Conneaut Fire Station #1
Conneaut High School Music Booster Club
Crows Nest
Dairy Queen
Danielle Nicolet-From the Starter Wife Television Show
Darden North, MD
El Puente Mexican Grill
Family Dollar
First American Cash Advance
Fun Time-Mentor
John & Sue Chapin
Lake Erie Auto
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Marcy's Funeral Home
Marty Landon -DJ
Max Wasa
McDonalds
Optomist Club
Orlando Brothers
Patricia K. Batta
Port Conneaut Federal Credit Union
Praxiar
Pro-Sales Solutions

Roberta Gellis
Sanford Sandwichs
Save A Lot
Schwebels Bread
Shefields Tents
Smokin' T's
Splash Lagoon
State Farm
Tanning 54
Time Warner Cable
Water World
The Hair Shack
Starlite Video
Film Fest Video
Quiznos
Port Conneaut Florists
Conneaut Theatre
Conneaut FOP
And finally, a huge THANKS to everyone who attended. With your help, we were able to raise over $2,400 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – and have a great time doing it!
Can’t wait for next year!

Russ & Kenna Coltman

Ben, Zana, Ethan, Quin, and of course, Caleb!

CALEB'S CARNIVAL - May 23, 11am-5pm, by CCGM

Well, it’s spring at the Market, and besides veggies, flowers, and hanging baskets, it is time for our annual fund raiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Caleb’s Carnival.

First, I thought it might be good to provide an abbreviated history of Caleb’s Carnival. It is named for a remarkable little boy from Conneaut, Ohio who has a disease called Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia or CML for short. He was diagnosed two years ago, in July 2007. He spent 5 days in the Pediatric ICU, followed by 10 days in the Immunodeficiency Ward, and during that entire time, he was unflagging in his cheerfulness, even given the poking, prodding and general discomfort of what he was going through.

Now, two years later, Caleb is in remission. All he has to do is take three little pills a day, and the leukemia that had distended his spleen to the point that it took up nearly his entire abdomen, is held at bay. It is a miracle; and would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the researchers at Novartis, and the funding from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).

So when Aunt Babe decided to become a very active participant in the LLS Light the Night Walk, we joined her whole-heartedly in forming Caleb’s Walkers. Brainstorming ways to raise money for this worthwhile and now very personal cause, Caleb’s Carnival was born. We held the first annual Carnival on Caleb’s birthday in 2008, and the event was a wonderful success. We think this year will be even better.

Heather Lindberg and Carnival’s for a Cause have put together a wonderful lineup of family fun for the day, including tug of war, egg toss and a sack race, as well as other games for the kids, with some great door prizes generously donated by local businesses and friends (I’ll get a list posted soon, thanking everyone – I’m constantly blown away by everyone’s generosity).

In addition, there will be food provided by Sav-a-Lot and the Conneaut High School Music Boosters, as well as barbecue from Smokin’ T’s. Brad’s Bouncy House in Erie will be providing a space for kids to work out some of their energy. There will be musical entertainment provided by the Erie Traveler’s and friends. And we are very excited to have two of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Cheerleaders coming to sign autographs and join in some of the fun activities.

We hope you’ll be able to join us on May 23, 2009 between 11am and 5pm in Chapin’s lot, next to the City Center Garden Market. The Market will be donating 5% of the sales from that day to the LLS in honor of Caleb, and is accepting cash donations ahead of the Carnival as well. Or, you can donate online at our donations page.

But we really hope you’ll be there to wish Caleb a happy birthday and join in the festivities!