How a local nonprofit is persisting in its mission to save lives.
Four-year-old Luke Liedy dreams of traveling to space one day as an astronaut. Diagnosed with neuroblastoma—a cancer that develops from immature nerve cells—at 19 months old, Luke and his Apex-based family have had their fair share of air travel recently as Luke’s treatments have primarily taken place at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Although Luke received care at UNC Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill at the onset of his illness, a surgeon at Sloan Kettering was needed to remove a tumor that had wrapped around his aorta and other major blood vessels.
This is where the Raleigh-based charitable nonprofit Children’s Flight of Hope flies into the picture to help families like the Liedys.
Children’s Flight of Hope provides air transportation to children who have been diagnosed with childhood cancers and other life-threatening diseases and are in need of specialized medical treatment, removing the financial strain that the cost of flying can incur for families.
There were 1,336 flights Provided to children with 153 diagnoses from 43 states and 23 countries last year. 10% were for North Carolina Families.
“What motivates us is the fact that these are real stories, with real children who are loved beyond measure,” says Pat Nelli, the executive director of Children’s Flight of Hope. “You never in a million years think this will happen to your family, and when it does, the stress and worry is overwhelming. Knowing that we play a role in the journeys of these families, while easing a part of their burden, drives us to continue to work hard to make a difference.”
In the midst of a worldwide pandemic, Children’s Flight of Hope is still working to alleviate the added burden of increasingly high costs of flights for families seeking specialists’ care at children’s hospitals across the country. But with COVID impacting operations for many industries, each step on the road to recovery for these children is under threat. The ongoing crisis has added pressure on businesses nationwide, and for charities like Children’s Flight of Hope, it brings staggering fundraising challenges.
With COVID largely curtailing two of the fundraising events scheduled for this year, Nelli says the need is more dire than ever to get the word out about an upcoming Denim and Diamonds Gala, Children’s Flight of Hope’s largest annual fundraiser. Traditionally held at the Angus Barn Pavilion, the gala raised $550,000 last year, setting a record for the highest-grossing event in the nonprofit’s history. This year, amidst the COVID backdrop, the event will be tweaked; Denim and Diamonds Home Edition will take place virtually.
“Though we are sad we can’t see our generous donors in person, I am excited for the ways in which holding a virtual event can allow us to gain exposure, or altitude per se, in other regions of the country, raising awareness for what Children’s Flight of Hope does outside of the Triangle,” says Nelli. “Our goal is to continue to accept requests from every family who needs help, even during COVID. With flights down because of the pandemic, and hospitals changing treatment schedules so they could care for COVID patients, to fundraising efforts, every facet of our mission has been affected this year.”
Nelli adds that she expects to see more families requesting travel assistance due to COVID-related financial hardships. The organization will continue in its determination to honor every request it receives for families who seek support, Nelli says.
Julian Mainusch
Brynn and Justin Mainusch’s son, Julian, was diagnosed with rare skin disease Inflammatory Verrucous Epidermal Nevus (ILVEN) in 2018. With countless visits to specialists located in St. Louis, the cost of flights would add up quickly had Children’s Flight of Hope not granted the Fuquay-Varina family’s request for assistance.
“Thanks to Children’s Flight of Hope, he got the care he needed without us having to worry about the cost of flights adding to our already dire situation,” says Brynn. The Mainusch family has taken 14 flights with the help of the organization to date; as with all families that are a part of the Children’s Flight of Hope community, they will continue to fly with the group as long as Julian needs to until he turns 18.
Luke Liedy
As for Luke Liedy, he has been in remission for nearly two years and is currently taking part in a vaccine clinical trial through Sloan Kettering. Luke and his family have plans to fly with the help of Children’s Flight of Hope four times in the next year.
Perhaps while he’s on the plane, Luke will be dreaming of future trips to the moon.
Denim & Diamonds Home Edition
Children’s Flight of Hope’s annual fundraising gala, Denim & Diamonds, has gone virtual this year due to the coronavirus. Starting October 27, participants can bid online for the silent auction up through the night of the event, which will take place on Friday, November 6. Several special guests will be featured during the program, including CFOH Board President Jenn Wade, Spectrum News anchor Caroline Blair and several of the children who have received specialty medical treatment through Children’s Flight of Hope. Get dressed up in your glamorous gala attire and make themed snacks and cocktails to go with your home-viewing experience. Make a meaningful impact and support a great cause by registering for the virtual event at: childrensflightofhope.org/diamonds
Black clothes will never go out of style, no matter how hard we try to incorporate other colors into our wardrobes. This season, make black stand out with leather textures and voluminous sleeves.
1. Cupcakes and Cashmere vegan black leather moto jacket, $150; Copper Penny 2. Leather Annie bag with vintage 1970s fabric guitar strap, $279; hamptonroaddesigns.com 3. Western hat with grosgrain trim, $89.50; J.Crew 4. Beaded floral earrings, $29.50; Madison 5. Amanda Uprichard black sleeveless leather saffron dress, $224; Uniquities 6. Antik Batik black ninon blouse, $237; Monkee’s 7. Amanda Uprichard black padme top, $194; Monkee’s 8. Sister Jane black miss confetti dress, $122; Monkee’s 9. Mille black Lila top, $158; Uniquities 10. Coach Tabby 26 pebbled leather crossbody bag, $395; Nordstrom 11. Vaneli black suede loafer, $165; Main & Taylor 12. BCBGeneration black laced front romper, $98; Copper Penny 13. Black croc embossed handbag, $59; Madison 14. Kendall Lane talia polka dot ruffle skirt, $98; Uniquities 15. Satin braided headband, $24.50; J.Crew 16. She + Sky black dot dress, $59; Madison
Designing your home with black paint and black accessories might not be your first inclination, but black color and home accessorizing has quickly become a hip new trend. Like white or gray, black is a neutral that can pair well with any other color. Plus, a black wall will make a bold, contrasting statement in any room.
We are in love with “Railings” by Farrow and Ball. A softer alternative to true black, it is versatile and timeless. We’re currently using it on kitchen cabinets and window grilles at a handsome historic renovation in Durham. — Robert MacNeill and Brittany Roux, Roux MacNeill Studio, rouxmacstudio.com
My color choice for a black paint is Benjamin Moore 2131-10 Black Satin. This black paint gives a room a sophisticated and dramatic look. I have used it in a small powder room with bright art on the wall and it looks great. Just make sure you paint your baseboards and trim white for a nice contrast. — Julie Flournoy, For Your Convenience
Tricorn Black is my go-to for a terrific neutral black that doesn’t have the undertones of any other colors, so as to pair wonderfully with any of them in a space. It also works really well on the brick of a fire place for a quick and dramatic change to any room! — Antoine A. Pontón, Principal-AP Designs, LLC, AntoinePonton.com
Caviar is a crisp black that makes a bold statement. It’s perfect for interior and exterior doors, hiding scuffs on staircase risers, and creating a bit of drama on ceilings. — Vicky Serany, Southern Studio, southernstudio.com
This warm black is my pick for a versatile dark neutral that would suit most any room. Keeping window, door and ceiling colors light, Paean Black is a stunning contrast in a powder room, or in a kitchen with white cabinets; and the hint of red is perfection for creating a cozy reading nook or an inspiring office. — Sally Williams, Colorful Concepts Interior Design, colorfulconceptsinteriordesign.com
1. Vietri urn, $28; The Shoppes at 1700
2. Stemless wine glass, $16.95; Zest Cafe & Home Art
3. “Every Man Should Know” book, $9.95; “Old Man Drinks” book, $14.95; The Shoppes at 1700
If you’re still working from home, take advantage of a change of scenery at Union Station.
This month, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA) and the Warehouse District’s transit hub are offering a new, socially distanced Outdoor Office setup that will look a bit different than the one from last year. Instead of a conference-type layout, smaller tables from commercial furniture store Alfred Williams & Company, placed at least six feet apart, will offer workspace for groups of two to three people as well as single-person tables, with hand sanitizer stands placed throughout the outdoor plaza.
As current COVID mandates limit outdoor gatherings to 50 people in a space at one time, Outdoor Office patrons must reserve a two-hour time block in order to use the space. In between blocks, staffers will clean and sanitize tables and chairs; face coverings are also required, unless you’re eating or drinking.
David Moore, the DRA’s placemaking and activations manager, says he hopes the Outdoor Office will attract more than just downtown residents and employees. “We want to make sure the Outdoor Office is attractive to folks who need to spread out or get out of the house, whether it’s adults or kids doing remote learning,” Moore says.
A variety of free, physically distant outdoor activities will be offered for kids of all ages, so parents can work productively while their children are kept entertained.
Union Station’s Outdoor Office will take place from October 12-16 and October 19-23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reserve a two-hour time slot by visiting downtownraleigh.org/dra-programs/outdoor-office
At this point it’s become a cliche to say that, for the 2020 election cycle, the stakes have never been higher. But there’s really no other way to put it. National unrest, a global pandemic, a faltering economy; all are hallmarks of a year that will culminate in the American people choosing to take the country in a different direction or ushering in four more years of the same. So, in the spirit of cliches, here’s another one for you: Your vote matters and it’s never been more important for you to cast it. For many, voting will look a lot different this fall; for others, it will be familiar. We want to make sure you know what all your voting options are and that, on Election Day or in the weeks before, you’re ready to make your voice heard, from the top of the ticket on down.
First of all, are you registered to vote? You can check at vt.ncsbe.gov/reglkup/. If you’re not registered, here’s what to do:
How to Register
In North Carolina, if you are a U.S. citizen of at least 18 years old, there are lots of different ways to register to vote. You can apply to register to vote online through the NC DMV website; you can fill out the North Carolina Voter Registration form at your local elections board office* or send it through the mail; or you can register and vote on the same day at sites across your county during the early voting period from October 15–31 (bring your driver’s license or ID and proof of residence). You must register to vote before Election Day on November 3. For more information, check out the Wake County Board of Elections website at wakegov.com/elections.
If you are registered to vote, check out your sample ballot and consider your options. There are more than 100 different ballots for Wake County voters this year, covering everything from U.S. president to state offices to judges and local lawmakers. Be informed. Then, make your game plan: you can vote at your assigned precinct in person on Election Day, at an in-person early voting site with locations all over Wake County, or you can vote by mail using an absentee ballot.
Worried about contracting COVID-19? Vote by mail-in absentee ballot.
While experts say they don’t expect voting at the polls this year to be any more risky than shopping at the grocery store, no one really knows what the coronavirus pandemic has in store for us this fall. Mail-in absentee ballots are available to all North Carolina registered voters. If you decide to go this route, first, you have to fill out an application requesting that your absentee ballot be mailed to you. Do so here: votebymail.ncsbe.gov/app/home or find blank applications at the Wake County elections office to fill out and return in person, via mail, fax or email. Once you receive your ballot in the mail (it should take no longer than 10 days), fill it out in the presence of one witness (spouse, friend, roommate); the witness doesn’t have to see who you’re voting for, just that you’re voting. Once you’ve completed your ballot, put it in the return envelope and complete and sign the outside of the ballot return envelope. Your witness will need to complete and sign the witness certification envelope as well. Then, return your absentee ballot to the Wake County Board of Elections office, either by U.S. mail postmarked on or before Election Day, by commercial courier service (FedEx or UPS), or drop it off in person on or before Election Day. You can also drop off your absentee ballot at any early voting site in the county during early voting hours. If you want to track your mail-in ballot, you can call the Wake elections office to make sure it’s been received, or download the state’s BallotTrax app. For more information on any of this, check out ncsbe.gov. Remember, you can request an absentee ballot and not submit it if you decide later on to vote in person—but, of course, you’re only allowed to vote once!
Worried about long lines on Election Day? Vote early.
Early voting will operate much the same as in prior election years, whereby any registered voter who lives in Wake County can vote at any early voting site in the county during early voting hours. Early voting starts October 15 and lasts through October 31, with hours during the week and on the weekends. For a list of Wake County’s early voting locations and hours, visit wakegov.com/elections/. You can also register to vote at any early voting site during the early voting period (see How to Register).
Want to vote the traditional way? Vote on Election Day November 3.
It’s an untraditional year but many of us will need that extra time to do our candidate research, especially on those down-ballot races. Remember, if you’re voting on Election Day, you must register to vote before November 3. Polling places are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day and any voter in line by 7:30 p.m. will be allowed to vote; you must vote at your assigned polling place (find that here vt.ncsbe.gov/pplkup/). County election boards will be taking COVID-19 precautions to protect poll workers and voters, enforcing social distancing, providing hand sanitizer and masks, providing single use pens, cleaning surfaces and equipment frequently and other precautions.
*Wake County Board of Elections
1200 N. New Hope Road Raleigh, NC 27610 (physical address)
