STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
A climb for two up Mount Rainier and a seven-night stay in Mexico for up to eight people are among the auction lots that will be up for grabs in the 24th Share Your Heart Ball for Camp Rainbow Gold.
Tickets are on sale now for the glamorous ball, which will be held at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at Sun Valley Resort’s Limelight Ballroom.
The evening raises money to provide free summer camp for children with cancer and their siblings. It also supports family camps for families dealing with cancer in young’uns.
“Share Your Heart Ball keeps all of our programs free for a camp that reaches families of all backgrounds across Idaho--you know, cancer has no boundaries,” said Christl Holzl, development director for Camp Rainbow Gold. “We didn’t plan for it to fall on Valentine’s Day, but we always have it the Saturday of President’s Day Weekend. So, we’re telling people, ‘If you haven’t made plans for Valentine’s Day, come celebrate with us.’ ”
Share Your Heart Ball includes an elegant cocktail hour, silent auction, dinner prepared by Sun Valley, live auction and a new cover band--Music City Groove from Salt Lake City that will serve up hits from the decades.
Live auction items will include one of the special football helmets that an artist designed for the Boise State University Broncos that is all about Idaho with Albertson Stadium and the State Capitol on it. The winning bidder will also receive two tickets on the 50-yard-line, plus a parking pass, for the opening game of the upcoming season between Boise State University and the Oregon Ducks.
There’s a trip to Nashville, Tenn., to see “Nine Track Mind” Charlie Puth in concert, with some cruising around Nashville, as well.
RMI Rainier Mountaineering’s Peter Whittaker, who lives in Sun Valley, has donated a climbing trip for two that includes four days learning the ropes of climbing and an opportunity to reach the summit of Mount Rainier.
Tickets are available at https://camprainbowgold.org/ or by calling 208-928-7820.
“We had an incredible camp season last summer,” said Holzl. “We served 400-plus families. We welcomed 15 new families to our camp program, which means there’s a need out there.
“We’re here to help children step away from their diagnosis and do archery, ride bikes, meet new friends and just be kids. We see them transform from the time they get off the bus and the time they get back on the bus. And at family camp parents get to step away from the heartache and difficulties of it all, reconnect with their family and meet other families going through similar circumstances. And it’s because of our generous Idaho community. We couldn’t do it without them.”