03:57 PM PDT on Thursday, June 7, 2007 Paul Newman says he wants his Hole in the Wall Camps to be his legacy. Ever wanted to meet a movie star? For me, it was Paul Newman, not that I ever thought it would happen.
Snap: just like that, today turned out to be the day. Newman, star of movies, sprint car racing, and Newman's own brand of healthy foods, was in the Seattle area today to announce he's putting one of his camps for sick kids in our area. He chose the dairy lands at Carnation farms as the site and showed up there for the announcement; a deal made possible with the purchase of the land by local men Jim Hebert, of Hebert research, and Tim Rose, Costco executive, who lost his son to bone cancer.
The camp will be named for the Rose's son Korey. Camp Korey will open next summer and will be part of a series of camps Newman started, called Hole in the Wall Camps, after the place the bad guys in his movie Butch Cassidy hung out. After the announcement, I got to sit down with Newman for an exclusive, one-on-one interview, and asked if it's true he's retiring from film.
Yes, is the answer. At an astonishing 82, he looks like 35, but says if you lose your memory, your concentration, it's time to let a new part of your life unfold. This man with the stunning blue eyes -- now using hearing aids, and not much taller than I am at 5'6 -- is nevertheless, a towering charismatic figure, one of whose hallmarks seems humility.
I asked, any tips on looking so young? No. Any exercise or nutrition secrets?
No. Any health help at all, I ask again. Yes, (this sprint car racing driver finally adds) I live life on the edge, so I can continue to test my balance.
Of all the movies you have made, do you have a favorite? No. Any movie for which you want to be remembered?
No. Anything at all for which you want to be remembered? Finally he adds, YES.
Let these camps be my legacy. They let kids be not cancer or aids patients, but kids. Here kids will be able to let off steam.
Here, if for only two weeks, kids will be able to really live. For about 1,500 very ill kids who will have their way paid to and at camp and for their families, who, too, struggle with these devastating illnesses, today ..
..is a great day.
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