by Bea Peterson
Erin Peeney, 25, is tall, lithe and charming, with a great big smile. She is Director of Volunteers at the Double H Hole In The Woods Ranch at Lake Luzerne in the Adirondacks.
The Double H Ranch was co-founded by philanthropist and founder of the Great Escape Charles R. Wood and actor Paul Newman. Erin is running in this year’s Boston Marathon as one of 25 members of Team Hole in the Wall. These folks are all involved in Hole in the Wall ranches across the country. “There are 35 such camps worldwide,” Erin said. She has to raise a minimum of $7,500 to be a team member. Her goal is $10,000. She has already received $3,000 from Ranch supporters and friends.
Brown’s Brewery Fund Raiser
On Saturday, February 28, from 3 to 7 pm Erin, her family and friends are hosting a fund raiser at Brown’s Brewery in Walloomsac. “There will be raffles, door prizes and a silent auction,” said Erin. Entry cost is $10. Kevin O’Malley will be DJ. There will be a cash bar and a Double H camp parent, Jimmy Makes Pizza, from Delmar, will be offering pizza.
Free Camp
The Double H began in 1992 with four campers. The facility provides specialized programs and year around support for children and their families dealing with life-threatening illnesses that include cancer, blood disorders, neuromuscular problems, HIV, sickle cell anemia and more. All the programs are free of charge. At the camp the kids are just kids for a week. Erin said, “at times they forget they are sick.” They go swimming and boating, do arts and crafts, study nature, play sports, try archery and horseback riding, participate in theater and try a high ropes challenge course. Nurses and doctors are on hand at all times. Erin said that a couple of local kids have had an opportunity to attend the camp or the winter program. “They loved it,” she said.
“Today,” Erin said, “we host 130 campers a week from June through August.” A camp stay is five nights and six days and costs $2,500 per camper. That’s a lot of fund raising every year.
Erin coordinates the 3,000 volunteers a year that do everything from building and grounds maintenance to working with the kids.
In 1998 the camp established an Adaptive Winter Sports Program that offers children ages 6 to 16 the opportunity to participate in various winter sports. Activities include Alpine skiing, snowboarding instruction and snowshoeing lessons. Again, the program is free and all the necessary equipment is provided.
Erin grew up in Buskirk. She is a 2007 graduate of Hoosic Valley High School. While studying special education at the College of St. Rose she saw a television commercial about the Double H Ranch. As a result of that commercial she became a camp counselor during her four college years. She graduated from St. Rose in 2011. She taught second grade at St. Mary’s Academy in 2013. Her grandfather is Roy Hand of East Hoosick.
Marathon
Erin was living in Boston at the time of the Marathon bombing. “It was amazing how the community pulled together,” she said. To be part of this race is a dream come true, she added. Of course, she has never run a marathon. She is allowed to participate because she is part of a non-profit team. “I went on the internet and found a first time marathon training program,” said Erin. It’s a 24 week program and she started in November. “Next week I’ll do a 16 mile run,” she said. She does short runs almost daily and one long run a week. “One morning it was negative three when I started out at 7:30,” she added. “I listen to books on tape and the miles just fly by.” She finds the first to the third miles are the hardest. On really bad weather days she runs on a treadmill at Planet Fitness. Erin lives in Saratoga now.
The 119th Boston Marathon is Monday, April 20. “I have family and friends coming to support me, and a group from the Double H. I’ve told them they are my motivators and I want them at that 21 mile mark called Heartbreak Hill, where I’ll need them the most,” she said.
If dedication and enthusiasm can get the race done, she will be fine.