Local winery to be part of major fund-raiser for Kidney Foundation

 CLERMONT - A four-year-old Bullitt County resident will host a party, collect funding and challenge one of Metro Louisville’s biggest corporations in the process.

Stephen Thomas

Zoey Miles in front of a display for Forest Edge Winery's Zoey Rosé named in her honor

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Zoey Miles is the honorary captain of Team Miles for Zoey Jade, a group of relatives in friends raising money for the National Kidney Foundation.

Team members encourage all community members to participate in a fundraiser for Zoey’s team at Forest Edge Winery Sept. 10.

Money raised by Team Zoey will be donated at an annual National Kidney Foundation Walk in Louisville Oct. 2.

Zoey was born with only one kidney, which was malformed and not functioning properly. She has also experienced hearing loss since birth.

“They have not labeled her condition,” father Scott Miles said.

According to Miles, Zoey remains a candidate for a future kidney transplant. He added that, thanks to assistance through NKF, Zoey maintains a normal childhood despite her physical condition.

“She’s now in pre-school at Mt. Washington Elementary,” said Scott. “She plays soccer. She dances.”

“She doesn’t let anything slow her down,” said Brance Gould, owner of Forest Edge and a cousin by marriage.

Gould noted that the winery, opened in May, decided to assist the team by donating a dollar from every bottle of rosé sold. The brand was named Zoey Rosé in her honor.

The money earned from sales, along with the upcoming fundraiser, will be donated to Team Miles for Zoey for the October walk.

Miles said the team has participated with the walk for four years, previously selling rubber wristbands as its main fundraising source.

Still, the team earned trophies the past two years for donating the most funds in the “friends and family” category, once raising more than $5,000.

“We almost raised as much as UPS,” he added.

Team Miles for Zoey Jade brought 37 walkers to the event in its inaugural year, increasing by 100 in 2010. Miles said the team hopes to bring 200 members this year.

“The money does not go to Zoey directly,” Miles mentioned. “The organization has already helped Zoey. It doesn’t go to her directly, but they’ve already helped her through research.”

Miles credited the NKF for its strides in combating issues and aiding in the lives of young people like Zoey.

“As kids we wouldn’t have received the same type of treatment as she has,” he added.

Gould said the winery sold wristbands just as other team members did at their offices and churches. The rosé idea was a way for the Gould Family to step up donations.

“We support the kidney walk because they’re family,” he said.

Gould added that the Zoey Rosé product earned a gold medal in its first wine competition at the 2011 Kentucky State Fair.

With that, Gould announced that each bottle of Zoey Rosé sold during the Forest Edge fundraiser would result in a $2 donation per bottle to the team.

During the fundraiser Forest Edge will host a 40-team cornhole tournament, along with raffling off two corn hole sets with the Zoey Rosé logo.

Other raffles will include gift baskets from Forest Edge and Texas Roadhouse. Door prizes and 50/50 raffles will also be featured.

Live musical entertainment and grilled hot dogs round out a full afternoon of fun for a good cause.

Forest Edge will also host free wine tastings and tours of the facility.

Team Miles for Zoey Jade T-shirts will be available per donation to the NKF. The team will also pre-register prospective walkers for the Oct. 2 event.

“It’s a kick-off fundraiser,” Gould added.

The Forest Edge Winery fundraiser for Team Miles for Zoey Jade takes place Saturday, Sept. 10, from noon to 8 p.m. The winery opens at 11 a.m.

Forest Edge is located at 1910 Clermont Road near Bernheim Forest. For more information call 531-9610 or visit www.forestedgewine.com.

Sponsoring partners for the fundraiser include Johnson Controls, Publishers Printing, Skinner’s Screen Printing, Texas Roadhouse and UAW Local 2926.

The National Kidney Foundation’s Louisville Kidney Walk is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 2, at Waterfront Park. For more information call (502)585-5433 ext. 105.