Media Advisory
WHAT:
Nationwide Childrens Hospital and Walmart store #2666 Manager Jon Kent will introduce Nationwide Childrens patient Kimmi Desir on March 6 as Ohios champion. Kimmi will be surprised with the opportunity to use a $500 shopping card at Walmart to prepare for her trips to Orlando and Washington D.C. from March 18 through March 25.
In 2006, 13-year-old Kimmi Desir of Reynoldsburg, Ohio became the first patient at Nationwide Childrens Hospital to receive a risky bone marrow transplant that cured her sickle cell anemia. Because only non-afflicted, full siblings are suitable for transplantation, only one in five children with sickle cell will find a suitable donor. Kimmi was fortunate to receive the transplant from her sister. Since then, Kimmi has become an advocate to lawmakers for support of the childrens hospitals that save patients just like her.
WHEN:
Friday, March 6, 2008, 6 p.m.
WHERE:
Walmart Store #2666
3579 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43207
(614) 409-0683
WHY:
Childrens Miracle Network, Walmart and Sams Club present an annual Champions Across America program. A Champion, a child with a remarkable medical story, is chosen from each state. The Champions serve as ambassadors for the 17 million children who are treated at Childrens Miracle Network hospitals each year. Kimmi will travel to Florida and to Washington, D.C., to highlight the vital work of childrens hospitals.
Childrens Miracle Network is an international non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 childrens hospitals. Wal-Mart's support for the Children's Miracle Network began in 1987. Since that time, Walmart and Sams Club associates, customers and members have raised and contributed more than $460 million for childrens hospitals.
CONTACT PRIOR TO EVENT:
Liz Sommer, Nationwide Children's Hospital Media Relations, (614) 355-0495, Elizabeth.Sommer@NationwideChildrens.org
CONTACT AT EVENT:
Jessica Ceritelli, Nationwide Children's Hospital Foundation, (614) 638-3285
Media Advisory: Event to Honor Nationwide Childrens Patient as Ohios Champion Across America' on Friday Evening
March 3, 2009
About Nationwide Children's Hospital
Named to the Top 10 Honor Roll on U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-24 list of “Best Children’s Hospitals,” Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of America’s largest not-for-profit free-standing pediatric health care systems providing unique expertise in pediatric population health, behavioral health, genomics and health equity as the next frontiers in pediatric medicine, leading to best outcomes for the health of the whole child. Integrated clinical and research programs, as well as prioritizing quality and safety, are part of what allows Nationwide Children’s to advance its unique model of care. Nationwide Children’s has a staff of more than 14,000 that provides state-of-the-art wellness, preventive and rehabilitative care and diagnostic treatment during more than 1.7 million patient visits annually. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s physicians train the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the Top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded free-standing pediatric research facilities. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org.