#TeamSkylor 5k

Team Skylor 5k run/walk

Saturday July 22, 2017 Sharon Woods Metro Park

Register for the Team Skylor 5k.

Race Day Schedule
Race Day Registration Starts- 7:30 a.m.
5k Run/Walk – 8:30 a.m.

On February 27, 2014, Skylor was diagnosed with brain cancer and from that moment on, his motto in life was “Fear Motivates”. Fear motivates positivity – he lived each day making sure his life was better than it was yesterday. Fear motivates love – he continued to make sure people knew he loved them and that he was always there for them. He often said, “Love your life. Things could be a lot worse”. Fear motivates strength – despite his battle with cancer, he always pushed himself to be greater.

Skylor wasn’t only an amazing son and a wonderful big brother, he was a talented artist who had a passion for graffiti art. But, his passion didn’t stop there. He was a proud member of the Olentangy Marching Band, an active member of the Delaware County AFJROTC, volunteering his time to recruit members and helping the community. He also volunteered as an Assistant Coach for OYAA Jr. Drill Team, as well as volunteered with Habitat For Humanity during spring break his junior and senior years. He had a calling and he lived his life fulfilling it.

On October 30, 2016, Skylor lost his fight with cancer. During his battle, Skylor bravely and so gracefully provided hope, courage, strength, and love to so many. In honor of this wonderful young man who left us too soon, this race continues. Proceeds will be used to fund an annual scholarship to an Olentangy High School senior pursuing a college degree. A gifted graffiti artist and creative author, Skylor had hoped to attend college. We’re going to see to it that those dreams are passed on to many, many teenagers who follow in Skylor’s footsteps.

Register here.

Registration through June 30:
5K (10 Years and Younger) – $10.00
5k (11 Years and Older) – $30.00

Registration through July 14:
5K (10 Years and Younger) – $15.00
5k (11 Years and Older) – $35.00

Registration through Race Day:
5K (10 Years and Younger) – $20.00
5k (11 Years and Older) – $40.00

Inaugural Dot’s Tots Golf Outing

Join us for the Inaugural Dot’s Tot’s Golf Outing at Thornapple Golf Course on Sunday, May 21, 2017.

Register for the golf outing here.

Event Schedule
Registration Start Time: 12:00 PM
Auction Start Time: 12:00 PM
Shotgun Tee-Time: 1:15 PM
Dinner and Awards: 6:00 PM

Location:
Thornapple Golf Course
1051 Alton Darby Creek Road
Galloway, Ohio, 43119

Save the Date-Inaugural Dots Tots Foundation Ladies Night Out

Dot’s Tots Third Annual Holiday Party & Family Festival

Join Dot’s Tots Foundation for the Third Annual Holiday Party & Family Festival on December 10.

Online ticket sales end at 5pm on December 9.

Tickets will be on sale at the door, $20 for adults and $10 for kids (age 2 and over). Admission includes Magician, Face Painting, Balloon-Twister, Marshmallow Blaster, Santa Claus, and Dinner Buffet. A portion of each ticket purchased is tax deductible. Proceeds benefit Dot’s Tots Foundation’s general fund supporting area youth with debilitating disease, foster children and their families, and local teens in their higher educational pursuits. Paid RSVP required.

Read more →

A Mom’s Love; Kidney Donor and a Real-Life Super Hero!

Meet Max, your average 3-year-old little boy. He loves superheroes like Captain America and dump trucks. In late October 2015, Max became quite ill and was hospitalized at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus for roughly two months. It was learned that his kidneys had stopped functioning properly, requiring regular hemodialysis (now on peritoneal dialysis). Eventually, the family was told, Max would need a kidney transplant.

Amazingly, Max’s mother is a match and he will receive a transplant at Nationwide Children’s Hospital on December 7th, 2016. As for now, Mighty Max continues to inspire everyone he comes in contact with – friends, family, neighbors, nurses, and strangers alike!

Dot’s Tots Foundation is blessed to be able to support this amazing family and their courageous Super Hero on a journey to good health. Through lawn care services and providing meals/groceries to the family, Dot’s Tots has received far more than it has given.

We’re rooting for you, Max (and Mommy)!

Harbinger of Hope Restaurant Tour and Tasting

UPDATE: We have reached capacity for this event and are now SOLD OUT! Thank you to all who registered. We look forward to seeing all who purchased tickets at the inaugural Old Hilliard Harbinger of Hope Restaurant Tour and Tasting on October 22nd!

Ticket includes drink tickets, food, door prizes, T-shirt, and “swag.” A portion of each ticket purchased is tax deductible. Proceeds benefit Dot’s Tots Foundation’s general fund supporting area youth with debilitating disease, foster children and their families, and local teens in their higher educational pursuits. Door prizes include autographed Cincinnati Bengals gear, iPad, and more!

Old Bag of Nails, Otie’s, and Local Cantina are participating.

Dot’s Tots Foundation toy drive update

On June 12, 2016, the Board Members of Dots Tots Foundation and their children converged on Toys R’ Us in Dublin, Ohio for an evening of shopping.  On the list were toys, games, and therapy aides for patients at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.  Examples included:

Art Therapy Program

• Yarn
• Glitter Glue
• Canvases
• Crayons
• Coloring Books

Adolescent and Young Adult Program

• Writing Journals
• Xbox Games
• Jewelry Making Kits
• Rubiks’ Cubes
• Advanced Lego Kits 

Music Therapy Program Wish List

• I-Tunes Gift Cards
• Earbuds
• Small Electronic Keyboards
• Toy Musical Instruments
• Musical Mobiles without Cloth Parts

Recreation Therapy

• Stress Balls
• Wooden Puzzles
• Duplo Blocks
• Play-Doh and Accessories
• Matchbox Cars

On July 7, 2016, Nationwide Children’s RN and Dot’s Tots Foundation Board Member, Libby Wenning, and Board Chairman, Andy Warnock, delivered $1,976.64 worth of support to the hospital.  Connie Hieatt, Community Events Coordinator for Hematology and Oncology accepted the goods on behalf of the Children’s Hospital Fund.  Thank you to all of the supporters of Dot’s Tots Foundation in making an impact on our youth who are in desperate need of joy and hope.

June 25 – Team Skylor Fundraiser – Columbus Crew SC

Come support Crew SC as they take on the New York Red Bulls in an Eastern Conference Final Rematch on June 25th at 7:30 PM!

Fireworks after the game!

$5 from each ticket purchased will be donated to Dots Tots and their fight againist pediatric brain cancer.

https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/crew/EN/link/promotion/home/fdfbe58109e904f53aef009ebdf03beb17940c18

A Mother’s Unconditional Love

Below is Carrie’s story in her own words.  Carrie lives in Marysville, Ohio with her parents, forced to move back in with them to help care for her children.  Having abandoned any aspirations of a career years ago, she works part-time at Bath and Body Works for a few dollars and some much deserved sanity!  Carrie is a single mom.  It is Dot’s Tots mission to help Carrie raise $25,000 to make her life – and her boys’ lives – better.  Won’t you help?

Donate here: https://dotstots.org/donate/

Landon and Logan are the sweetest, most lovable, affectionate, little 5-year-old twins. One smile and they will steal your heart.  At first glance, they appear just like any other rambunctious little boys, but their struggles are far greater than you can imagine.  

Logan has a rare congenital birth defect called Amniotic Band Syndrome; his right arm was banded and never fully developed before he was born, so his arm is amputated from just below the elbow.  Furthermore, in 2013, the boys were diagnosed with severe Autism. They not only have difficulty following simple instructions and speaking, they have no sense of danger and are prone to wandering, bolting, and eloping. They will bolt into the street and wander away and not think twice about it. They are brilliant escape artists. There are two of them and only one of me. There is hardly a moment that goes by that I’m not stopping them from doing something that could cause them serious injury. Because of this, it is absolutely imperative Landon and Logan have a service dog. A trained, certified service dog will not only prevent them from wandering and bolting, but can also aid in search and rescue if, God forbid, it is ever necessary, as well as rescue from a drowning. A service dog will also help with socialization and behavior modification. With a service dog, we can finally go to parks and restaurants and stores. The boys could finally attend their friends’ birthday parties and many other things other children get to do that they’ve missed out on for many years. I could go to bed knowing they won’t find a way to leave the house in the middle of the night. This fear is very real and it consumes every moment of every day. 

We have chosen Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers to provide an Autism Service dog. The cost is $25,000. This not only covers the cost of the dog and initial training, but also years of follow up training and recertification. They will be with us every step of the way in making sure our dog is trained to meet their needs today and for years to come as the boys’ needs change. Accomplishing this goal will not only be life changing for the twins, it could be lifesaving.

Until There’s A Cure…There’s A Dog is the Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers’ motto.  With hundreds of lives changed and over a decade of dedicated work, SDWR is a leader service dog organization. SDWR believes that through their uniquely trained service dogs, the lives of those with invisible disabilities can be improved. At SDWR, service dogs include Diabetic Alert Dogs, Autism Service Dogs, Seizure Response Dogs, and PTSD Service Dogs. Each type of service dog is hand raised by SDWR staff and volunteers to mold it into a life-saving tool for each family in need. 

June 25 – #TEAMSKYLOR 5K – Sharon Woods

TeamSkylor 5K Run/Walk

June 25, 2016

8:30 registration, 9:00 am start

(register online here)

Sharon Woods Metro Park
6911 Cleveland Ave
Westerville, OH 43081

* Brain cancer fundraiser *

Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Westerville/teamskylor5k

About Skylor:

On February 23, 2014, Skylor Burgos, now a senior at Olentangy High School, was taken to Nationwide Children’s Hospital after suffering from severe headaches and double vision.  Four days later, doctors diagnosed him Grade 3 Anaplastic Astrocytoma, an inoperable form of brain cancer.  Undeterred, Skylor spent the beginning of his journey in and out of radiation treatments, chemotherapy appointments and visits to the hospital.  He never lost hope and he never lost his smile.  Unwilling to let his cancer change his fun-loving attitude, Skylor began referring to his tumor as “Tommie.”  The nickname quickly caught on with family and friends; this 5K race is dedicated to the eviction of Tommie, as the doctors cannot do so alone.

Despite his diagnosis, Skylor continued on with his life as “normal.”  He was a member of the Olentangy High School Marching Band and still continues to be an active member of the AFJROTC and enjoys doing community service in Delaware County as part of the program.  Skylor has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and has spent his past 2 spring break vacations helping out in Tennessee and South Carolina.  He truly has a passion for helping people out in any way he can.

In February 2016, a routine MRI showed a second tumor, located in the same area as the first.  Although radiation was already given, his team of doctors put Skylor on a more aggressive form of chemotherapy.  They continue to monitor him with routine MRI’s and lab work.  Despite this new information, Skylor has stayed strong and is a positive role model to friends, families and even strangers.  He plans to attend college in the fall, majoring in Creative Writing with hopes of publishing his story to encourage other children and teenagers to never give up hope.

 About Dot’s Tots Foundation:

Since Ashley Warnock began her career in social work, she has been involved in serving the needs of local youth. However, upon the birth of her first son in October, 2011, Ashley “retired” from the workforce to be a homemaker.  While caring for her son, Ashley had a yearning to work with children again. This fueled a conversation between she and her husband, Andy.  Interestingly enough, Andy had investigated the formation of a charity to support needy families years earlier.  The culmination of their joint vision was the establishment of Dot’s Tots in the Summer of 2012.  The name of the Foundation is in honor of Andy’s late grandmother, Dorotha Warnock. Dorotha was a lifelong educator and constant provider of guidance, support, and love to all of her students and especially her grandchildren. This Foundation carries her legacy forward.

Visit us at: www.dotstots.org.