Christy Heitger-Ewing Talks Love of Writing and Chicken Soup for the Soul Contributions
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SPIRIT OF THE SEASON
YMCA Kicks off Holiday Programming
RUGBY READY
Giselle Long Talks Rugby Passion and Playing Overseas
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WRITE TURN
CHRISTY HEITGER-EWING TALKS LOVE OF WRITING AND CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL CONTRIBUTIONS
Writer / Ashley Callan
Ever since Christy Heitger-Ewing was a little girl, she loved to write. But it wasn’t until her story “Diary of an Anorexic”, detailing her battle with anorexia, was published in a national magazine that she knew she wanted a career in writing. She often shares firsthand experiences in her writings. Through her vulnerability of sharing embarrassing, real and hard moments in her life, her words can serve as inspiration and strength to the reader.
“Life is hard,” she says. “I like writing stories that give people hope, make them smile and inspire them to spread joy to others.”
With a writing portfolio that spans over 2,600 articles for various magazine publications including the Towne Post, and 17 contributions to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Heitger-Ewing is certainly sharing a little piece of her soul with the world.
Her first story for the Chicken Soup for the Soul Series was published in 2013. Chicken Soup for the Soul books each have a specific theme, with a series of stories that retell true firsthand experiences that can evoke emotional responses from the reader. “It’s fun writing first-person stories about memories that matter to me but resonate with others,” says Heitger-Ewing.
Being consumed by guilt and grief after her mother’s suicide, she found healing in her writing. “At least half of my Chicken Soup stories are about my relationship with my mom - what I learned from her and admired about her, funny memories that involve her, and the anguish of losing her,” she says. Using her experience navigating through grief to help to others heal, Heitger-Ewing says the most powerful story she has written for the franchise is “No Fault”, published in the book “Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Forgiveness
Fix”, which details her journey to forgive herself following her mother’s suicide. Just recently, she had three publications inside three of the latest Chicken Soup for the
Soul books: “Just Say Yes”, “Miracles, Angels & Messages from Heaven” and “Tales of Christmas”.
“Just Say Yes” was released on July 16. The stories in this book inspire the reader to have the confidence and motivation to try something new. Heitger-Ewing’s story “Acting
on a Whim” details when she was a freshman in college and auditioned for a one-act play. “It was so outside my norm, but it was an awesome experience,” she says.
“Miracles, Angels & Messages from Heaven” details personal accounts of divine intervention and of the presence of angels with stories of hope. It was released September 17. “Searching for Mom” details Heitger-Ewing’s experience after her mom died by suicide and how she longed for her mother. “After my mom died by suicide, I ached to feel her presence but couldn’t,” she says. The story describes an encounter at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness overnight walk with a mother who had lost her daughter to suicide. “I shared how I longed to feel a connection to my mom, and this woman told me how after her daughter died, she began finding dimes,” says Heitger-Ewing. After completing the 16mile trek, she was walking back to her hotel room at 3 a.m. when she found a dime in the middle of the street. Since then, she says she
has found several hundred dimes, and each time she picks it up, smiles and tells her mom she loves her.
Released on October 15 just in time for the holidays, “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tales of Christmas: 101 Stories of Holiday Joy, Love and Gratitude” features holiday tales of disarray and chaos, thankfulness and gratitude, togetherness and more. “An Icy, Dicey Adventure” describes a holiday vacation when Heitger-Ewing was a teenager
at her family’s Northern Michigan cabin, and of the chaos that ensued with her family. “Now it’s hysterical to look back on it as it reads like a Chevy Chase movie, but at the time we didn’t see the humor,” she says.
Chicken Soup for the Soul books are available to purchase via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and bookshop.org. You can also find HeitgerEwing’s writing throughout the Towne Post magazine publications.
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Spirit of the Season
YMCA KICKS OFF HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING
If you missed the official kickoff of the Hendricks Regional Health YMCA’s holiday season with the annual Gobble Gallop on Thanksgiving morning, they once again brought in more than 1,500 participants and raised funds to support programming and membership opportunities throughout the year.
They have plenty of unique, familyfriendly events in the next few weeks to add to the calendar.
Through December 6, their Giving Tree is available at the Avon location. Members of the community can grab an ornament off of the tree and purchase new, unwrapped gifts for a child in need.
“We partner with an elementary school in Wayne Township and an elementary school in Avon, and work with their guidance counselors to identify the underserved over the holiday season,” said Don Casey, associate executive director for Hendricks Regional Health YMCA.
In 2023 the YMCA served one of their largest numbers of youths to date with more than 250 gifts, and Casey anticipates serving a few more in 2024.
Writer / Melissa Gibson
Photography / Amy Payne
“There are always some last-minute needs and we don’t want to turn kids away,” Casey said. “There’s a huge need and a huge opportunity for us to do more. We’re looking for additional corporate partnerships too because we can’t do it alone.”
Each ornament on the tree will have a QR code on it, giving participants a list of the child’s needs and wants for the season. All gifts need to be dropped off at the YMCA by December 6. Then, on December 7 they’ll hold a wrapping party before inviting parents to stop by for pickup.
From giving and helping others to family fun time, the YMCA will host their second annual Grub With the Grinch on December 7. The event started out as a fun and unique spin and grew to include numerous holiday brunch and character visits in the area. It became a favorite activity of many Hendricks County residents last year.
You can’t beat visiting with the guy in green and his cantankerous mood, all while celebrating the holiday season with friends, family and fun.
YMCA staff will serve brunch and families can enjoy a variety of activities throughout the morning.
“Last year we served over 200 kids,” Casey said. “They’ll decorate ornaments for the ornament decorating contest, participate in games and crafts, and we’ll have the movie, ‘How
The Grinch getting in shape for Christmas
The Grinch is not sure about this workout plan
the Grinch Stole Christmas!’, playing upstairs. They’ll be able to visit with the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who for photos.”
The Grinch will be in the area throughout the holiday season too. It’s not uncommon for him to pop in to the early learning program, or a familyfriendly event throughout November and December, so be sure to keep your eye out for other Grinch sightings.
Grub With the Grinch will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on December 7. Families need to register for the event online or at the front desk. The cost is $15 for members and $25 for nonmembers per person, and you’ll receive an assigned staggered arrival time to give participants the best experience possible.
Finally, on December 17, the public is invited to the early learning program’s annual winter concert.
There’s no question that watching little ones sing their hearts out will cause you to bring the Christmas spirit home with you, and Casey called this year’s performance “extra special.”
“We looked at the diversity and background of the kids we have, and we have welcomed 15 families from countries all over the world, so we’re working on an all-inclusive concert that brings all of those countries together as a part of the early learning program’s event,” Casey said.
Of course, as a facility that welcomes 8,500 members throughout the year, the YMCA works to include all ages from all walks of life, and they do that through the various programs offered.
“In one of the fastest-growing counties in the state, we want to figure out ways to service active older adults, teens, childrenthe entire family,” Casey said.
Most recently, the YMCA has partnered with Sheltering Wings, the domestic abuse treatment and prevention center in Hendricks County, with the ultimate vision of creating a teen night each week.
“We want to designate a space for our teenagers meant specifically for them, with video games and board games and other fun activities,” Casey said. “This would bring teens together from all of our high schools in Hendricks and western Marion County, and it allows students to meet others outside of their traditional high
TASTE THE DIFFERENCE
school circle. We’ll be looking for support in that area soon so we have the needed supplies to launch.”
In fact, Casey said the YMCA is so much more than swimming and exercise. Many are unaware of the numerous programs they offer, from chronic disease prevention to kids’ night out, giving parents a break for the evening.
You can bring your six-month-old to the child care center while the adults work out, or participate in a veteran Hero Challenge.
“We couldn’t list all of the things we have to offer, but we want the community to know that they can expect this level of quality and service in every program,” Casey said. “It can be a challenge but it’s something we are going to do.”
The YMCA is celebrating its 170th anniversary in December, showcasing a long history of providing programs and activities to families across the globe.
As a nonprofit, they are dependent upon community support, sponsorships and donations. On Giving Tuesday, December 3, they ask for your support for not just Avon, but also all YMCA locations.
Look for membership promotions in mid-December. It’s an opportunity to join for the first time or return after a break. There are a lot of new programs and events to look forward to.
“In 2025 as we move forward, we have things coming down the pipeline that are community-centric, and everyone is represented in this space,” said Roland Smith, executive director. “It’s a place we can all gather. Look for some amazing things the community can get involved in, and we’ll continue to make an impact in those areas we do well.”
CHRISTMAS
RUGBY READY
GISELLE LONG TALKS RUGBY PASSION AND PLAYING OVERSEAS
Writer / Melissa Gibson
Photographers / Bruce Mayo & Jasun Blocher
Giselle Long a junior at Avon High School, and grew up playing sports and supporting her brother in his athletic pursuits. Think of it as a friendly sibling rivalry.
“Whatever he did, I wanted to do,” Long said. “I look up to him. He was playing for the Westside Black Swarm rugby team and I really enjoyed watching. It seemed like a
great experience.”
A few decades ago there wasn’t a lot of girls rugby, but in 2024, Long said that’s nonsense.
“The club was interested in starting a girls team,” she said. “I was the first girl to show up and I did my practices with all the guys. I
started my freshman year of high school and I’m on an all-girls team now.”
Long has a history of defying athletic gender norms. She played tackle football in the second grade.
“I’ve always had the mentality that girls can do it too,” Long said. “When they opened it up for a girls team I definitely wanted to try it out.”
Rugby was extremely popular for centuries in England but much of the world has caught on over time. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and others can boast a long history of the game. In the U.S. however, it seems to just now be gaining momentum.
“I usually tell people it’s similar to football but there are no pads,” Long said. “You only play with a mouthguard and you pass backwards. There are positions in rugby, but what I love about it is, everyone can do everything. There’s not one position running the ball or one position scoring all of the time. We don’t specialize.”
The Westside Revenge team, consisting of female players in Hendricks County, plays against others in the area including Zionsville, Westfield, Carmel and Noblesville to name a few - but many of those teams are new.
“This is our third year but I think a couple of them just put their first team in this spring,” Long said. “It’s definitely growing in this area.”
They’ve been successful too. With two seasons each year, Revenge brought home the state championship in both the fall and spring of Long’s sophomore year, and again this fall in Long’s junior year. She was awarded player of the match by the other team after the 36-0 win.
In the two and a half years she’s been playing, recruiters have had their eye on her. Long was invited to play on the Midwest Thunderbirds team and compete at a match in Tampa, Florida. It was there, for the first time, where she encountered girls from
across the globe who love rugby too.
“I really hit it off with one of the girls who had been playing a lot longer and had more experience than I had,” Long said. “She suggested I look into Eagle Impact Rugby Academy (EIRA). They take the best around the country, bring them together for a camp and get a feel for their skills.”
After connecting with an EIRA representative, her opportunities continued to expand.
“I sent him my highlight reel and he asked if I would be available to play in Spain and Ireland over the summer,” Long said. “My jaw was literally on the floor. I couldn’t believe it.”
Her trip overseas isn’t something she’ll likely forget, and though she had some small windows of time to sightsee and enjoy the area, it was mostly focused on rugby.
“There was a social side and a rugby side, and both were an 11 out of 10,” Long said. “Playing at that high of a level and being surrounded by so much talent, knowledge and skill is insane. You can’t find it anywhere else. These girls have been playing since they were 5.”
She called it “humbling” to work with coaches who could quickly identify changes she needed to make. Even with her current talent and skill level, Long could see there was more to be done.
“This was my first rugby event at that level,” she said. “For a lot of people, EIRA is a steppingstone for U.S. junior National or U.S. national teams. I went from my home club to playing with a Midwest team and traveling to another state and then to another country. It was insane.”
One of the aspects Long loves about the game is the connections made with teammates. It doesn’t matter who is the slowest, fastest, smallest or biggest. They all have to work together to get the job done.
DR. VICKI CRUM
In Spain and Ireland, she was able to make those connections too.
“On the social side, I met some of the most kind, hard-working and amazing people I’ve ever met in my life,” she said. “I feel like the rugby culture is like no other. Just being around girls from around the world, where they appreciate rugby - everyone there wants to get better. Everyone has a great attitude. I learned as much from them off the pitch than on.”
The young women went into Dublin, Ireland, shopped, ate and snapped pictures. With a shared passion and love for the game, Long said some of those ladies are now her best friends.
Long is excited for the future of rugby and for her own athletic career.
“We invite people to games all the time,” she said. “When someone sits down and watches it, they often love it. The Westside
club has a men’s division and a kids’ division too. It’s not too late to learn a new sport.”
As more high schools and colleges launch club rugby teams, scholarships are available, and as the interest in the sport continues to grow, the opportunities will also.
“I would love to play in college,” Long said.
“I’ve been visiting campuses and talking to coaches. I don’t know what I want to study yet but I do know I would like to play rugby. If I had the opportunity to play for a U.S. team, I’d take it in a heartbeat. I want to play and represent my country in the sport I’m most passionate about.”
For Long, the sky is the limit, and she’s not taking “no” for an answer.
