WQIO Ohio's Super Station
(Mt. Gilead, Ohio)FlyingHorse Farms (FHF) is a medical specialty camp that provides medically, physically, and emotionally safe camp experiences for kids with serious illnesses and their families at no cost.
On Friday, October 4th, the Campfire event, hosted over 500 guests at FHF’s property to raise funds and inspire the community invested in the mission. Behind the program was one core call to action – make the world more like camp. Attendees, alongside camper families and volunteers, imagined a world shaped by friendship, built around a deeper sense of belonging, driven by understanding, and filled with the courage to be fearless.
“Every camper story, their resilience, and their courage inspire our vision,” Nichole E. Dunn, President and CEO of Flying Horse Farms shared. “Because let’s imagine a place where sense of belonging, understanding, and the courage to be fearless are what matter most. A world driven by joy and friendship, where connection brings healing and hope. Wouldn’t that be a world we all want to be a part of?”
Event guests brought this imagined world closer to a reality with over $1M raised.
Campfire is one night, but the funds raised will go directly towards current and future programming and ensure camp continues at no cost for every kid and family. Ultimately, every donation means more kids can find joy and hope beyond their diagnosis, while discovering what fearlessness means for them. During the event camper Brie took the stage and embodied what the camp value “fearless is free” looks like for her.
“If the world was more like camp, everyone would be loved and respected for who they are as a person and not by their medical differences,” Cyndi Kleinhenz, Brie’s mother shared. “Most importantly, people with medical complexities would never have to overcome feelings of shame, embarrassment, and despair because of their diagnoses.”
Watch Brie’s story here to see how wishes made at camp become realities we all make happen together.
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About Flying Horse Farms
Flying Horse Farms, located 45 minutes north of Columbus and 90 minutes south of Cleveland, is a medical specialty camp that provides healing, transformative experiences for children with serious illnesses and their families – free of charge. Located in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, the camp first opened its gates in 2010 and has provided more than 10,000 experiences since then. Serving kids and young adults ages 7-21 and their families, from Ohio and beyond. Campers come with diagnoses including cancer, heart conditions, rheumatologic diagnosis, blood disorders, lung conditions, gastrointestinal disorders, craniofacial diagnoses, spinal cord diagnoses and internalized mental health diagnoses (anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, mood disorders, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder for campers ages 11-15). Its mission is to foster healing, growth, and thriving for children with significant health challenges. To learn more, visit www.flyinghorsefarms.org