The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer’s long-running signature fundraising event, the 10th Annual “Celebration of Life & Hope,” has been rescheduled for the evening of Saturday, Oct. 27, at Stratton Hall in downtown Chattanooga.
The event, originally scheduled for Sept. 8, is being co-chaired this year by Mike and Maggie McCallie of Chattanooga, two long-time supporters of the Austin Hatcher Foundation. Mr. McCallie is a partner at Max Trans Logistics, while Mrs. McCallie has served on the Celebration of Life and Hope committee for several years.
The Celebration of Life & Hope annually serves to showcase the foundation’s efforts to fight pediatric cancer both in the Chattanooga area and nationwide. The numbers reflect those expanding efforts; coming into 2018, the foundation had provided services to more than 71,000 young cancer patients and their family members, across 28 states, involving 42 children’s hospitals.
Local and regional support of the event traditionally is strong, reflecting a longstanding bond between the Austin Hatcher Foundation that dates to the foundation’s inception, said officials. Amy Jo Osborn and her husband Jim – the foundation’s president and chairman, respectively – started the foundation in 2006 following the death of their infant son Austin Hatcher Osborn due to cancer.
“We already are receiving tremendous support from sponsors for this year’s Celebration of Life and Hope,” said Mrs. Osborn. “We hope this date adjustment will allow time for additional sponsors to become involved. Our new co-chairs are working hard and we are confident of another successful event.
“The Celebration of Life and Hope is our cornerstone and really helps return us to our regional roots, interacting with so many supporters who have been with us since the beginning.”
For more information on the Celebration of Life and Hope, go to www.hatcherfoundation.org.