Central Ohio Athlete Competes to Help Kids Battling Cancer

    COLUMBUS, OH, March 01, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Kelli Robinson, a 25-year-old graphic designer living in Columbus, is about to embark on one of the biggest challenges of her life.

On July 31, Robinson will take part in the Iron Girl Triathlon, a grueling 800 meter swim, 30 mile bike ride and 5K run in Racine, Wisconsin.

But to Robinson, this is about much more than a race. "I'm dedicating this race, my training and all my efforts to families battling childhood cancer," she said.

Robinson explained that she became inspired to compete in the event when she was looking for a way to honor the memory of her friend and mentor Larry Joseph, who lost his battle to cancer in January of 2005, but not before spending the last months of his life building a retreat for children with cancer and their families.

"Chapel Hill House sits on 71 secluded acres in Marion county and provides a place for families suffering through the hardship of cancer a place to dream, giggle and believe," says Jason Joseph, son of Larry Joseph and Chairman of the Chapel Hill House Board of Directors. Joseph explained that his father was a high school art teacher and that Robinson was one of his students. "Kelli and my father stayed close after she graduated and during his illness. He was proud of her talents and accomplishments."

Joseph explained that his father had bought land in Marion County with plans to build a log cabin as a retirement home. Shortly after purchasing the land, he was diagnosed with cancer.

"My dad decided to dedicate the rest of his life to creating a place for those families who are dealing with pediatric cancer to get away from the chaos that daily life provides a patient child and their family. The cabin was originally located in Caldwell, Ohio where it was disassembled and relocated to Morral, Ohio. Just as the reconstruction of the cabin was coming to a close, an opportunity arose to relocate another log building onto the property. This time a very generous family from Marion, OH donated what used to be their home. This building was then modified to become what is currently the barn that sits adjacent to the log home at Chapel Hill House," Joseph said.

According to Joseph, Chapel Hill House hosted 39 families in 2009, one almost every weekend between March and October and several during the weeks in the summer.

Robinson, who has remained close to the Joseph family, said she felt the need to give back to the person who was such an inspiration to her.

"I'm doing this in honor of Larry Joseph and to raise money and awareness for Chapel Hill House," she said.

"My goal is to raise $3,600 for Chapel Hill House, $1,000 for the swim, $1,000 for each mile of the ride and $1,000 for each kilometer of the run," Robinson said.

Robinson added that she will document her training and the event on her blog at www.chapelhillhouse.org and on the Chapel Hill Facebook page www.facebook.com/chapelhillhouse and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/chapelhillhouse. Individuals and organizations interested in sponsoring Kelli can visit http://www.chapelhillhouse.org/Contribute.html.

About Chapel Hill House

Chapel Hill House is a retreat where families battling childhood cancer can rest in the seclusion and privacy of a log cabin sitting on 72 beautiful acres in Marion County. The cabin, originally built in 1835 and rebuilt by Larry Joseph in 2001 following his own cancer diagnosis, combines modern amenities with the peace and tranquility of a country retreat. Since 2003 more than 200 families have enjoyed Chapel Hill House as a place to dream, giggle and believe. There is no charge for families to stay at Chapel Hill House. Individuals and organizations interested contributing to Chapel Hill House can visit www.chapelhillhouse.org/

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