COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon is pleased to announce the 2021 “Patient Champions” who will represent 24 of the 26 miles on the course. The other two miles, the Encore Mile, will honor former Marathon Patient Champions, and the Angel Mile, will celebrate the lives of those who are no longer with us.
A committee of hospital staff selected the Marathon Patient Champions after a review of inspiring patient stories submitted via the hospital’s social networking sites and nationwidechildrens.org. Patient Champions, current or former patients of Nationwide Children’s, were chosen based on various criteria, including diversity of diagnosis, age and enthusiasm to cheer on race participants at their mile. A full list of the Patient Champions is below. Originally selected for the 2020 edition of the Marathon that was cancelled because of safety concerns related to COVID-19, the selection committee decided to bring back the 2020 Patient Champions so they could experience the 2021 race.
To help fund the lifesaving research and care taking place at Nationwide Children’s, marathon and ½ marathon participants are encouraged to fundraise as “Children’s Champions.” Since 2012, the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon has raised more than $10 million for life saving care and research.
Corporate or community organizations interested in becoming a partner in 2021 may contact Cindy Laux with the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation at (614) 355-5413 or Cynthia.Laux@NationwideChildrens.org . To read more about the marathon Patient Champions and to support Nationwide Children’s, please visit nationwidechildrens.org/marathon-patient-champions.
The 41st Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon is Sunday, October 17th at 7:30 a.m. at North Bank Park. It is one of the Top 20 marathons in the United States. For more information, visit www.columbusmarathon.com.
The 2021 Patient Champions:
- Addyson W., 9, Kozlowski Type Spondylometaphyseal Dysplasia, Kyphoscoliosis Deformity of the Spine, Powell, Ohio
- Adrianna C., 6, Congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Hip Dysplasia, Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss, Cochlear Implants, Lima, Ohio
- Anderson W., 9, Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome, Granville, Ohio
- Andy V., 13, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Gastroparesis, Mounds, Oklahoma
- Aria T., 13, Ewing’s Sarcoma Cancer, Dublin, Ohio
- August “Augie” K., 6, Pilocytic Astrocytoma Tumor and Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia Infection, Columbus, Ohio
- Blaine S., 9, Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss (deafness), Autism, Land O’Lakes, Florida
- Bridgette R., 18, Major Depressive Disorder, Powell, Ohio
- Claire G., 21, Coarctation of the Aorta, Hubbard, Ohio
- Gianni B., 6, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (Type 3), Blacklick, Ohio
- Jason B., 19, Trisomy 15, Epilepsy, Toledo, Ohio
- Jenna S., 17, Severe Persistent Asthma, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, Vocal Cord Dysfunction, and Dysphagia, Hilliard, Ohio
- Luna J., 17, Gender Dysphoria, Anxiety, and Depression, Columbus, Ohio
- Matthew J., 18, Neurofibromatosis Type 1, Scoliosis, Gallipolis, Ohio
- Morgan A., 4, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERS), Westlake, Ohio
- Neil T., 15, Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia (MPAL), Dublin, Ohio
- Nora B., 3, Intestinal Malrotation, Columbus, Ohio
- Quentin P., 8, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD), Asthma, Powell, Ohio
- Raegan D., 13, Apert Syndrome Senecaville, Ohio
- Savannah P., 12, Cushing’s Disease, Columbus, Ohio
- Simon S., 8, Autism, Epilepsy, Gtube Eosinophilic Esophagitis, ADHD, Keratoderma Palmaris et Plantaris, Hilliard, Ohio
- Sofia V., 11, Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP), Dublin, Ohio
- Sydney B., 13, Cleft Lip and Palate, Pickerington, Ohio
- Taylor G., 17, Bowel Obstruction causing Ovarian Cyst, Carey, Ohio
Note: Age on race day is reflected