NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release
Contact: Ann Mort, RMort@cinci.rr.com, 513-422-3030, 513-649-4506
Contact Woodrow Pilot: Gary Moore, 928-486-1075, FlyWanderlust@aol.com, www.wanderlustballoons.com
May 8, 2006
GIANT TREE STUMP HOT AIR BALLOON TO VISIT MIDDLETOWN
Woodrow C. Greenleaf, a 120 foot tall tree stump, will be at the Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival, July 21-22-23, courtesy of MidFirst Credit Union, primary sponsor of the event.
Each of the four years of Ohio Challenge, a special shape balloon or two have graced the skies of Middletown, Ohio, along with the competitive balloons there for the weekend.
Woodrow holds 118,000 cubic feet of air and travels with his three best friends, Marco the Macaw, Tomas the Toucan and Paolo the Parrot. Each of the characters are 30 feet tall themselves. Woodrow and his friends lost their homes to deforestation and have pulled up roots to travel the world raising awareness of the importance of ecological conservation. They refer to their ground crew as “Official Tree Huggers.” Gary and Diana Moore from Lake Havasu City, Arizona, serve as pilot and crew chief for the balloon.
A second special shape, the giant Soccer Ball balloon, will return to the event courtesy of Butler Tech.
Hot Air Balloon competitions are just one part of the Ohio Challenge weekend. The Fastrax Skydiving Team will also be doing several demonstration jumps throughout the weekend, outdoor musical concerts, Geocaching demonstrations and much more will be on the schedule.
Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival will be held at Smith Park in downtown Middletown. On-site parking is $5 per vehicle. Admission is free to pedestrians walking into the park.
For more information about Ohio Challenge, call 513-422-3030 or visit www.ohiochallenge.com website.