MEDIA ADVISORY: NASA Astronaut to Visit Nationwide Childrens Hospital Friday

March 5, 2010

WHAT:  
A NASA astronaut, in Columbus to attend the Arnold Sports Festival, will visit patients at Nationwide Children’s Hospital Friday.

WHEN:   
2 p.m.
Friday, March 5, 2010

WHERE: 
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Outpatient Care Center (OCC) entrance
555 S. 18th St.
Columbus, OH 43205
*media parking available in courier drop-off at OCC entrance; or visitor parking garage at OCC entrance

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  
Col. Charles Hobaugh, a special guest to the Arnold Sports Festival, arrived home just months ago in November after an 11-day mission to the International Space Station. After attending a previous Arnold Sports Festival, Col. Hobaugh, who enjoys weight lifting, called it a “defining moment” in his life. So, during his recent mission into Space, Col. Hobaugh brought with him an Arnold Classic medallion and a Governor’s Medallion from the State of California.

“We are genuinely touched that Col. Hobaugh has such fond memories of the Arnold Sports Festival, and were very proud that he requested mementos from our Festival to take into space,” co-producer Jim Lorimer said. “It will be an honor to host Col. Hobaugh in Columbus this year. I cannot think of a higher compliment for our weekend than to be endorsed by such an American hero.”

Col. Hobaugh was among six astronauts on board Space shuttle Atlantis for the November flight to the International Space Station. The Atlantis delivered a load of spare parts that will be used to keep the space station running for several years.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Brent LaLonde           
Arnold Sports Festival       
614-431-2600               
brent@arnoldexpo.com       

Stephanie Lorenz
Arnold Sports Festival
624-595-6997
Stephanie@arnoldexpo.com

Mary Ellen Peacock
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
614-355-0495
MaryEllen.Peacock@NationwideChildrens.org

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.