On April 1^st, The New Hampshire Electric Coop Foundation (NHECF) awarded $2,000 to On Belay to support a new program partnership with the adventure education department at Plymouth State.

“The NHEC Foundation is proud to help support a program which provides crucial and unique coping skills for youth dealing with cancer in their family member. The partnership between On Belay and PSU makes for a great fit within our community and we are proud to be a part of their future success,” said Audrey Simpson, Executive Director of the foundation.

This gift enables On Belay to add two additional program sessions in 2011 at a new location on the University campus in Plymouth, NH. Each program session provides up to twenty-five children access to adventure activities like rock climbing and high ropes course work. Facilitators use the activities to create a metaphor for participants, teaching them if they can figure a way through these challenges they can overcome anything. At each program participants connect with other children facing similar challenges, think creatively, challenge themselves, support others, ask for help and build physical and emotional confidence and a community to remind them, that they are not alone.

On Belay provides free adventure based support programs to children living with or who have lost a parent to cancer. The program serves children from throughout New Hampshire, Southern Maine, Northern Massachusetts and Vermont.

The next On Belay session is Saturday, June 6^th at The Browne Center in Durham, NH. To register for the program offor more information about On Belay visit

www.on-belay.org or email questions to info@on-belay.org

The NHEC Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) funded by members of the New Hampshire Electric Co-op whose monthly electric bills are rounded up to the next dollar with the proceeds benefiting the Foundation. Founded in late 2005, the Foundation has donated more than $1 million to support charities, organizations and programs that improve the quality of life in New Hampshire. Learn more on the foundation website, www.nhec.coop.

We wish it were an April’s Fools joke, but this winter storm proved to be anything but.

Tonight’s program at The Indoor Ascent Gym is canceled. The program will be rescheduled for a Friday evening later this month, stay tuned to our website FMI.

We do not take this decisions lightly, we LOVE seeing all of the On Belay participants and climbing together. However, safety is always our priority and conditions across the region today make it unsafe to encourage families to come out.

Thank you for your patience and flexibility.

There is still snow on the ground but there is no doubt spring is in the air. There are so many opportunities for community connections happening at On Belay I wanted to share the excitement. Our staff and board work hard to find meaningful, high impact opportunities to connect with families who need to know about our program. The events listed below are by no means the only events out there, so if you know of a great event On Belay should have a presence at, let us know!

On Belay Program ~ April 1st in Dover, NH

American Cancer Society – Living with Cancer Conference ~ April 16th in Concord, NH

11th Annual Stowe Weekend for Hope ~ April 29th to May 1st in Stowe, VT

American Cancer Society – Living with Cancer Conference ~ May 4th in Augusta, ME

And of course I have to throw in a reminder to sign up early, practice your swing and get ready to join us for the 2011 Crescentia Classic ~ Monday, July 25th in Dover, NH

This time of year is a wonderful for many reasons: shared meals, time with family and friends, vacations, holiday parties, snow (where applicable), exchanging gifts and most importantly it is a time when we are encouraged to stop, reflect and appreciate everything we are grateful for.

On Belay is blessed with community of support that is unparalleled. I am regularly awe struck by the generosity of our volunteers, donors, participants and their families and often by complete strangers who believe in the value of our program.

Last Tuesday, On Belay volunteers raised over $3,700 at a Boston Bruins home game to support our programs. An opportunity made possible by the generosity of the Bruins Foundation, the donation of transportation to and from Boston by Regal Limousine in Portsmouth and the tenacity and passion of each of our volunteers as they sold 50/50 raffle tickets.

On Saturday many of the same volunteers summoned their holiday cheer to host “Caution Gingerbread Construction” a fundraiser designed entirely by University of New Hampshire student volunteers. The turn out at this year’s event blew away expectations and sent volunteers running for extra supplies mid event.

As 2010 comes to a close I want to thank all of the people who make On Belay the organization it is today. In 2004 Crescentia Helay- True was a woman on a mission to ensure children, like her two daughters, would have a community to turn to when faced with the challenge of a cancer diagnosis in their family. Today, On Belay is a thriving organization because of the community who support this vision.

On behalf of the board and staff – we could not do this without you.

May your holidays and be merry and bright and again, thank you for your support.

On December 7^th, 2010 On Belay volunteers, alumni and parents of participants will pile into a coach donated by Regal Limousine in Portsmouth and head to The TD Garden to cheer on the Boston Bruins and raise money for On Belay.

The Boston Bruins Foundation chose On Belay as the beneficiary of a 50/50 raffle at the Bruins home game against the Sabers. Previous beneficiaries have raised between $5,000 and $10,000 and On Belay volunteers are poised to break all records.

Stay tuned to our website and facebook page for update on the evening!