Chapel Hill House is an 1835 log house originally located in Southeastern Ohio. In 2001, the house was relocated to 82 acres of peaceful, rural, wooded and grassy lands in Morral, Ohio, purchased by Larry and Annie Joseph. Larry and Annie then proceeded to renovate the house. It was their goal to build and provide a weekend retreat, offering a quiet place of respite for families that are dealing with childhood cancer. Larry, at the time, was enduring his own battle with cancer and knew first hand what day to day life was like in the grasp of such a dreadful disease. He, as a grown man, couldn’t imagine what it would be like for a child to go through life not knowing what the next day might bring. With that in mind, the couple’s goal to make this dream a reality became a mission without the possibility of failure.
They also realized that providing a place such as this was only part of the task. They needed to find families who were in need of this retreat. After just a few attempts at partnering with various groups, Larry and Annie were introduced to Kids'n Kamp. As an organization centrally located in Columbus, Ohio, Kids'n Kamp retained contact with over 300 families with children fighting cancer at any given time. Once the two groups became acquainted, a relationship was quickly established and Chapel Hill House moved onward.
After countless hours of unimaginable drive and effort, the project approached completion in 2003 when the first family of guests arrived. There have been many weekends spent at Chapel Hill House and an unanticipated value granted to those families who needed the time and togetherness, which they received. Chapel Hill House continues to move forward and provide the much needed time together that these families value so much. We appreciate their support, effort, thoughts and ideas, and even their love for this place they cherish so much. They appreciate Chapel Hill House for its meaning, its serenity, its peace, and its support. Just as families support the Chapel Hill House, it supports them. Evidence of this can be found all around Chapel Hill House including three signs, place randomly throughout the nature trails by Larry himself. They are simply one word each:
Dream, Giggle, Believe
Larry Joseph lost his battle with cancer. His dream was to build a place for families to go for the weekend to try to forget the pain and suffering from cancer. His dream came true.
Our story with Chapel Hill House
We found Chapel Hill through Kids'n Kamp in Ohio. We scheduled a weekend to take our family to enjoy this house. It was amazing! We met Annie Joseph, which is an amazing woman with a heart bigger than anyone else we have ever seen. We walked into the house and was breath taken by its beauty. Annie had food waiting on us, all the pantries were stocked. Even a cookie jar filled with homemade chocolate chip cookies (which our kids hit immediately). There was nothing we needed to worry about, everything was provided to us. All we had to do was enjoy our family.
Well, we did! We needed that weekend away so much. With all the business of dealing with cancer, chemotherapy, bills, jobs and everything else that can press against you. This was a paradise get-away! Our family had the most wonderful time together. We laughed, loved, played, set to eat dinner together; the small things we can take for granite and not make time for… is where we can find a time of healing.
We are thankful for Chapel Hill House, we are thankful for Larry and Annie Joseph and we are thankful for them opening up this wonderful place to us. Chapel Hill House is making a difference in the lives of so many families who are currently dealing with or have dealt with childhood cancer. Chapel Hill House is an “Everyday Hero” to us and so many others.
If you would like to find out more information about Chapel Hill House or make a donation to help support them and what they do, here are some links to follow.
www.friendsofchapelhillhouse.org
Thank you for this artcile. I found it posted on your Twitter.
ReplyDeleteYou made this place sound so wonderful and great. My family has been battling cancer with our child for the last year now and really could use a place like this.
I am enjoying your blog and the resources are absolutley helpful to us. I just wanted to say thank you for letting us know about this place and God bless you and what you're doing to help people.
God bless,
Sherry