When Dr. Ralph E. Hathaway saw the picture of Calhan Lion Jodi Doyle surrounded by a bevy of stuffed animals in the New Falcon Herald and noted her request for donations, he knew that this was a project that fit the mission of the Shriners. Hathaway phoned Doyle and told her that he would be able to help her with the Fuzzy Fun project; the project that would provide stuffed animals to special needs children who participated in the Colorado Lions Summer Camp.”Having fun helping children is what the Shriners is all about,” Hathaway said. Through his efforts, he was able to donate 300 stuffed animals to the Calhan Lions Fuzzy Fun project. “We all need something or some goal to help our friends and neighbors in need and that’s what life should be all about,” Hathaway said.At a July 1 meeting, Calhan Lion Jim Nile presented a certificate of appreciation to Hathaway. “Many, many animals, and many, many happy kids,” Doyle said, as she announced with the help of the Al Kaly Shrine, more than 400 animals had been collected and would be delivered to the Colorado Lions Camp to be used as prizes and gifts.Hathaway, a retired Air Force Colonel, is the staff physician and a hospital representative, as well as public relations contact for Al Kaly Shrine. With their 22 hospitals in the U.S. and Canada, the Shriners have been able to help children from birth to 18 years at no charge to the family. Over $7.6 billion has been spent by the Shriners to help 800,000 children since 1922.
