#forteensfromteens

[heartofpassion2004]

WHOA Nola!! We have received the most leadership applications we've had in YEARS and are excited for a competitive and compassionate cohort! It's not too late to swing by the meet and greet tonight (no rsvp no problem! Just let us know when you arrive!) to learn about HoP - and show us what you want to bring to the team! If you can't make it tonight, don't worry - applications are open until FRIDAY at midnight (link in bio). Thanks for all the interest and good luck! #HoPNola #forteensfromteens #workhardplayhard

[heartofpassion2004]

For #HoPAtlanta's next GIVEAWAY we’ll be giving a basket filled with Heart of Passion swag shown here, a $50+ value! Donate $10 to http://www.heartofpassion.org/donate and like this post to be entered for a chance to win this great basket! The winner will be drawn on April 24th. Spread the word! #forteensfromteens #inittowinit #grabthatswag #donate #hop2017

[heartofpassion2004]

Gorgeous venue for our HoP National Leadership Retreat at @childrensharbor !! #hopnola #hopatlanta #hopcharlotte #hop2017 #forteensfromteens

[heartofpassion2004]

My name is Malise and I am a junior at @mpcountrydayschool New Orleans. This is my second year volunteering for Heart of Passion and I can’t wait for RCD this summer. I am involved in Heart of Passion because I enjoy helping teens, similar to me, build connections with others who are going through the same struggles as them. Along with funding an all-expenses paid trip, we help form friendships which would not have been formed otherwise. Help support me and my peers by visiting the link in our bio and donating! #proudofhop #hopnola #forteensfromteens #hop2017

[heartofpassion2004]

Neha’s Leadership Journey: Empowerment through Service

Heart of Passion is an organization that creates uplifting experiences for teens with cancer. Our Red Carpet Day (RCD) is a weekend-long event that brings together teens with cancer for exciting activities across Charlotte.

Cancer is a serious illness that affects people of all ages. Personally, I believe that cancer which impacts children and teens is the worst since it brings difficult hardships to the raw youth too early in life. This momentous struggle at such an early age can force someone to lose his or her innocence and hope. It is truly a hefty burden to bear. Unable to even grasp the struggle that teens with cancer face, I wanted to do something to bring a little happiness and create some memorable moments in their lives.

As a Youth Leader for Heart of Passion, I partake in an intensive year-long program that encompasses lessons in service, business, and communication. Since the start of junior year, I have been working with my peers to construct a fun RCD for our guests coming from the Carolinas. The “for teens, from teens” is a major concept that Heart of Passion prioritizes. The activities and events are planned by us, the Youth Leaders, for our RCD guests. To acquire the expertise necessary to plan an expense-free weekend-long event, the Youth Leaders and I train in professional workshops to adopt a stronger confidence to engage in the community and share the purpose of Heart of Passion. Additionally, we contacted local businesses and organizations like Discovery Place Science and Strike City for donations and sponsorships. We even learned grant-writing and earned a grant of $4,500 from KOA Care Camps for HoP Charlotte. Working with community leaders, I have strengthened my networking skills and produced a newfound boldness to approach challenges.

This entire experience has changed my perspective on service. In the past, I simply participated in many community service activities, just counting hours. Imagining Red Carpet Day, planning the weekend activities, contacting businesses and corporations, and experiencing the event with our teen guests is a whole other sphere. To physically construct something that was a piece of my imagination takes service to a brand new level. However, this process was not all smooth-sailing. My team has heard more “No” than "Yes.” But those no’s pushed us even harder to make our vision a reality. Organization helped my team to manage our work and stay motivated to keep approaching companies. All the dedication and community support helped my team construct something meaningful from start to finish. RCD stands as a testament to prove hard work can bring a simple idea to life.

[heartofpassion2004]

Hi, I’m Savannah Solomon! I was 11 (going on 12), 15, and 18 for my diagnoses of rhabdomyosarcoma (left shoulder, right lung, right lung, done). Slight cop out, but I detailed the diagnosis feelings here. My peers helped me stay positive when they showed in very thoughtful ways that they knew I was going through something and they cared - but keeping me as part of the normal conversation. For example, my soccer team gave me head scarves in our team colors to wear to the games, and they sprayed their hair to match. Just laughing and spending time with me was absolutely key. I obviously have a unique relationship with RCD because it's more like my baby than my vacation - and I've been to 19 of them, so picking a favorite memory is practically impossible! The first event was four months after I finished my second bout of treatments, and hundreds of people from Atlanta has supported it coming to fruition. They put in the memo line of their checks "For Savannah's dream," which sounded unbearably cheesy to me at the time; however, now it's the best (although still cheesy) way to describe it - like watching a dream play out in real life. I did not expect people to share how important the event had been to them on a pretty deep emotional level, but the feedback from a girl named Erica from Charleston that said she'd never before felt comfortable with her cancer until that weekend struck me. We weren't providing a party - we were giving comfort. Fastforwarding, the third RCD Atlanta was unique for me because I'd only been off my final treatments for a few weeks. I was incredibly weak and underweight - and fit every quality of our priority registrants (relapse, homebound, recent treatment). RCD 2004 drove me through a semester of treatments, and it was when I first added a training element for the teen leaders. After that event, I knew continuing and expanding the event was as much a part of me / my future as my right arm. I founded HoP within the following month. Every single event lends at least a few glimmering memories, so I won't run down all 19. As I've gotten older, my memories come from watching the teen leaders own their retreats and hosting with incredible grace and enthusiasm, and I love when their success allows me to stay in the background. #ForTeensFromTeens has always been the magic of RCD. That and the laughter, relationships, and wall-tumbling at a key phase in every guest and leader's life is the heart of each of my favorite memories. #MissionMoments by #HoPCharlotte

[heartofpassion2004]

HoP Stories - Guadalupe from RCD Nola

I’m Guadalupe.  I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma on May 10th, 2016. At the time, I was 16 years old and had already been through one surgery for a biopsy of a swollen lymph node on my neck. After being diagnosed, I stayed in the hospital for my second surgery for the chemport and to begin my chemo treatments. I never returned to school, but I did receive calls from my teachers checking up on me. During the days of my first few days of chemo treatments, my friends would often check up on me if they saw I posted on social media, but their messages soon stopped. It would be nice to say that I did have their full support through those days, but I never spoke to many of them until later on towards my last chemo treatment in August. Because of that, I almost didn't attend the RCD trip because I was so upset of everything that happened. The nurses eventually convinced me to go, and I'm really glad I did because I met really nice people and made new friends who understood better. The trip really helped me cheer up a lot, made me feel more normal- made me forget I had cancer, made me realize things I was still capable of doing if I tried, and helped me make an amazing friend that I still talk to today. My favorite memory from the trip is the dance on our last night there. We went on the Creole Queen paddlewheeler boat and just the view alone was so mesmerizing and beautiful. The dancing part of the night was also fun despite any walking problems I had then because there were people there who made me lighten up and actually step out of my little 'awkward shell' and dance with the others. #15YearsofRCD #ForTeensFromTeens #MissionMoments by #HoPCharlotte

[heartofpassion2004]

HoP Stories - Joz from RCD ATL

I’m Joz.  It was 2011 and I was 13 yrs old. Finding out that I had cancer and was only in the seventh grade completely changed my life! All of a sudden I no longer felt normal nor did I feel as though I was a kid anymore... Unlike many kids I was in a hospital almost 24/7, instead of going to sporting events, school plays, parties, or even just out with my friends, I was in Memorial Hospital  in Savannah GA getting Chemotherapy, Dulcolax lol, disgusting hospital food, and laying a cold brick of a bed but it was my reality.. I thought my life was going to be written differently..  As a teenager that was my life for 3 years so I really don't know what it is like to be teenager but with the help of my peers at school and my really close friends,they helped me keep my head up a lot. My peers kept me up by doing things in school by trying to involve me even though they knew I would be too sick or blood to low to attend but they would always send me cards to assure me that they were thinking about me and that they loved me very much! My peers also came and visited me while I was in the hospital... that made me feel very great because I could how much people cared even though I felt like they didn't.. But the biggest impact on my life came when I was asked to attend a Red Carpet Day Event... I had no clue what I was getting into but when we arrived to Atlanta I was more than glad that I had chosen to attend. RCD made me feel like a teenager for the first time ever! The activities that they did with us and the places that they took us just gave us the opportunity to be teenagers and kids again and not have to worry about our next treatment or when we'll have to go back to the hospital. RCD gave us kids and teenagers the happiness that we kids needed and the friends that would forever be lifelong! I had great memories that I'll never forget... One great memory from RCD is trip to Stone Mountain... I had never been! It was so fun! I got to get on the ride that took me to the top of the mountain and that was the best feeling ever! I felt as though I was on top of the world! Another great memory is when I met a girl name Angel Watkins. She was  there as well and we connected very well. She and I both had the same cancer and were both diagnosed at the same age so we had a connection from the start but unfortunately she had lost her leg but that didn't stop her! She taught me that it doesn't matter what the circumstances are you can still be brave and keep your head held high! She taught me that it doesn't matter what others think because her smile was so wide and bright you could tell she had no worries! I had made a lifelong friend thanks to being apart of such an amazing gift (RCD)given to children to be themselves. #15YearsofRCD #ForTeensFromTeens #MissionMoments by #HoPCharlotte