Hometown Hero: Purple Balloon Foundation

Did you go to camp when you were a kid? Most kids do go to summer camp. Imagine being a kid in the hospital and you want to go to camp. The Purple Balloon Foundation helps make that possible.

The PBF is made up 100 percent of volunteers who raise funds that help subsidize patients at Children's Medical Center in Dallas get to Camp John Marc. The camp is disease and disorder specific; so kids being treated for a brain tumor all go at the same time, kids who have renal conditions go to dialysis at camp at the same time, etc. No one stands out because of treatment because everyone is being treated for the same thing.

PBF raises funds that help CMC patients get to camp and enjoy the camp experience. They hold two fundraisers a year -- an October golf tourney and a February bowl-a-thon. The prizes for the best bowlers, golfers and biggest fund raisers are beautifully decorated bowling pins. The patients at Children's Medical Center paint them, sparkle them, tutu them and totally make each bowling pin a work of art. These trophies are prized among adults and children.

The name of the Purple Balloon Foundation is symbolic -- the balloon inspires sick kids to soar and the color purple symbolizes valor, something these children exhibit every day.

If you'd like to help the PBF log on to www.purpleballoonfoundation.org or call Melanie at 972-384-2046.