Fort Bend Lifestyles and Homes Magazine Apr 2009: Sugar Land Bash, Snowdrop Foundation, Chelsey Campbell

Most children in Sugar Land and the surrounding area wake up at home on a typical weekday, go to school and prepare for a bright future. They, in most cases, start thinking about college and what they want to be when they grow up. As children, we are all asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Children usually take this question lightly in their younger years; however, for some, this can be a haunting question. When a child is told they will not live to see their 16th birthday, all they want to do is “grow up.”

Snowdrop Foundation provides funding for continued pediatric cancer research at Texas Children ’s Cancer Center and scholarships for college-bound pediatric cancer patients and childhood cancer survivors. Kevin and Trish Kline founded Snowdrop Foundation in 2006 and are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children struggling with cancer.

The SUGAR LAND BASH is a charity event benefiting Snowdrop Foundation. All proceeds will provide full college scholarships for five, possibly six, young people who have won their fight against cancer. The cancer-surviving children receiving these scholarships live in the Sugar Land, Missouri City, Stafford and Richmond-Rosenberg communities. The TCRN Sugar Land Network is holding the inaugural SUGAR LAND BASH to give back to the community.

Brian Covault, founder of the TCRN Sugar Land Network, says, “The TCRN Sugar Land Network is comprised of more than 40 local businesses committed

to providing superior products and services to those residing in the greater Sugar Land area. Visit www.sugarlandnetwork.org to view all of the businesses in the TCRN Sugar Land Network. As a network, we also want to commit ourselves to giving back to our community.

“My partnership with Snowdrop Foundation stemmed from my passion to volunteer my time to work with children, ” continues Covault. “I am involved in the children’s ministry at River Pointe Church and coach girls soccer for the West Houston Soccer Club. Now, after meeting Kevin and Trish Kline and learning about Snowdrop Foundation, I want to help them in their quest to make a difference in the innocent lives of children who have been struck with cancer. ”

In Kevin Kline’s words:

“My life changed on Dec. 15, 2005, while broadcasting from Texas Children’s Cancer Center. At 8 a.m., I noticed this beautiful little girl across the room in a corner, playing with the younger kids. I saw her do this for four hours and I thought to myself, ‘What a nice young girl to volunteer her time to play with these kids.’ She had a smile that warmed the room and melted my heart.

“I finally introduced myself at noon and told her how impressed I was to see her donate her time to play with the kids. She told me that she was awaiting treatment because she was a cancer patient. I was shocked.

“I was completely leveled when she told me her story:

“In September 2005, she was a homecoming princess. The next month, she was told she had a 10 percent chance of survival and that she may not even live to see 16. She told doctors that not only would she see 16, but she’d be that one in 10 to beat her particular kind of cancer, a rare form that only afflicts 50 people worldwide each year.

“Chelsey Campbell and I became instant friends. I visited her everyday that she was in the hospital and every week during the times she was well enough to be home. We grew to have an almost brother and sister relationship, even though I ’m old enough to be her dad.

“Through the torturous chemo, the radiation and the record-setting 28-hour surgery she endured to remove 95 percent of her tumors, she never lost her positive attitude, her fight, her determination and her belief that she would win her battle with cancer.

“After her ‘marathon’ surgery, I made a promise to her. As I knelt beside her bed in her ICU room, she was barely awake, her lips were blood encrusted and IV lines and tubes covered her like blankets, I told her that I would run a marathon in her honor.

“I’ve since fulfilled my promise, running with stress fractures in both of my legs. The pain was enormous, but nothing like the pain I saw Chelsey endure.

“Chelsey, as she predicted, celebrated her 16th birthday on June 11, 2006. She celebrated in the hospital. Many of us were there to share her inspiring day. Unfortunately, the present that my wife and I were giving her wouldn ’t arrive until three days later. On June 14, we presented Chelsey the gift of a legacy.

“What started out to honor Chelsey, we now carry on to memorialize her. Chelsey died on December 9, 2006, at her home. I now live my life to share the love that Chelsey taught me and to give back in Chelsey ’s honor because she has given me a whole new life.

“Cancer took Chelsey from my arms, but it will never take her from my heart.”

Join Kevin to celebrate Chelsey’s life by supporting the SUGAR LAND BASH on April 18. Raffle tickets can be purchased at www.snowdropfoundation.org or at a TCRN Sugar Land Network business (visit www.sugarlandnetwork.org) for $10. At the BASH, a 2009 Toyota Corolla LE, generously provided by Fort Bend Toyota, will be raffled off in a drawing, along with a dozen other items from TCRN Sugar Land Network businesses.

The SUGAR LAND BASH will be held in the J Loggins Jewelers parking lot, 14015 Southwest Freeway (@ Sugar Creek), from 8 p.m.-11 p.m. The BASH is open to the general public and will have free beverages and concessions as well as live music.

Help support Snowdrop Foundation and give hope to pediatric cancer-surviving patients in this community. •