The power of the Internet,  a unique web site, and a group over 1,600 caring volunteers come directly to the bedsides of children who are battling life-threatening illnesses.   Hugs and Hope founder, Marsha Jordan with grandson Cobi.  Her online group makes life happier for sick children.   In 1998, Marsha Jordan was struck blind by complications of mixed connective tissue disease. After becoming disabled, Jordan filled her days with praying for and writing to families of sick children.  She vowed to prevent parents of sick children from having to endure hard times without someone to turn to for emotional support. While she can't cure the world of diseases, Jordan and her 500+ devoted volunteers of http://www.hugsandhope.org/ are able to give parents some sense of relief in the form of knowledge, encouragement, and people to turn to for help.   Since October of 2000, families with sick kids have been logging onto the HUGS and HOPE Club for sick kids web site to post their stories and make new friends.  The club offers a chat group for parents  where they can interact with others in similar situations. These exchanges provide parents with contacts and links to helpful resources such as free air travel, assistance programs and free medical services nationwide. "We consider ourselves a link between sick children's families and the organizations or individuals who can help them," says Jordan. "Our site and our volunteers offer help to find solutions to a myriad of problems."     Some of the Hugs and Hope "Club Kids"    "Because we are an internet based group," explained Jordan, "when families in crisis need a friend or information, it's only a mouse click away 24 hours a day. The organization's easy access allows house- and hospital-bound kids and their parents to make and maintain friendships. Jill K., whose son Zackery was hospitalized for several months during a bone marrow transplant,  said, "This is a wonderful organization.  It gives my son something to look forward to besides needles and doctors."  After Zack's story and photo were posted on the Hugs and Hope website in December, he received hundreds of cheery cards and packages from visitors to the web site.   The group's volunteers stay updated on kids like Zack  through the chat group and weekly online newsletters.  Says Jordan, "The Internet is a powerful tool and it's great to be able to use it to help families in a positive way." Every year, more than 30,000 children are admitted to hospitals in the United States. The HUGS and HOPE club is trying to reach as many of those kids as possible to "send them smiles across the miles" and put a little fun and laughter into their lives again. ZACKERY K Nine year old with Bone Marrow Failure Disease was in isolation for many weeks.  He was thrilled to receive this autographed electric guitar from Kid Rock with the help of HUGS and HOPE volunteers Helping to ease the suffering of  kids -- that's what HUGS and HOPE is all about.