Visions of sugar plums will dance in the heads of young cancer patients, their families and friends at the 19th Annual Cards of Hope Summer Party on June 6 at Valley Worlds of Fun in Fairmont. The festivities begin at 10 a.m.

Cards of Hope are holiday greeting cards designed by current and former patients of West Virginia University Children’s Hospital and their siblings. Every summer they come to the party to create a new assortment of designs that are later marketed and sold to benefit the hospital’s Cure Kids Cancer Fund, which ensures that patients and their families receive state-of-the-art medical care and psychological and social support.

One of last year’s Cards of Hope”This is a great event that not only allows our cancer patients and their families to interact and share their stories with families in similar situations, but it’s also a chance to let our kids be kids and forget about cancer for a little while,” Cheryl Jones, R.N., director of WVU Children’s Hospital, said.

In June, a committee will meet to select nine of 10 designs drawn by the young artists that will be made into cards for the 2010 Cards of Hope collection. The 10th design is chosen by the artists themselves and is called the Kid’s Choice.

The new collection will be produced as a pack of 20 greeting cards in an assorted or single design pack and will be available this fall.

The Cards of Hope project also includes a Cash Bash and Auction, which is scheduled for Nov. 6 at Lakeview Golf Resort and Spa in Morgantown. All the original card designs including those chosen as part of this year’s collection will be sold to the highest bidders.

For information about Cards of Hope see http://cardsofhope.com or call 304-598-4346 ext. 2.

-WVU-

CONTACT: Angela Jones, HSC News Service
304-293-7087; jonesan@wvuh.com

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