C h i ld ren’s Miracle Network Ne w s letter • R i c h m o nd, Virgi n ia • W i nter 2005

i racles MMThe mission of Children’sMiracleNetwork is to generateawareness forprograms andraise funds to benefit children servedin our memberhospitals–Children’sHospital andChildren’sMedical Centerof VCU/MCVHospitals.

R I C H M O N D

By Andrew Beazley, Co-Executive Director of Randolph-Macon Dance Marathon 2004 and current rehabtechnician at Children’s Hospital

On March 20, 2004 Randolph-MaconCollege held its Third Annual Dance Marathon,raising money to support Children’s MiracleNetwork – Richmond. It’s probably the only dayat our school where students, staff, faculty, andmembers of the community come together withone unique goal in mind – to raise money tohelp sick children and to celebrate their lives.As one of the Co-Executive Directors of theDance Marathon and having a nephew support-ed by CMN – Richmond, I have the privilege torecollect my thoughts on our recent success.

In this case, I will look at success in threeways. First of all, we were able to recruit ateam of individuals, though loaded with acade-mics and in many cases working for financialreasons, driven to pull off an event with themagnitude of a Dance Marathon. We had people searching for corporate sponsorships,setting up events and games for the day,contacting families, and the list goes on. Weheld weekly meetings to broadcast our latestsuccesses, or to even ask for a little help. Thefact that we had a group of students with the

heart and work ethic in mind to set up and planfor this event still amazes me.

A lot of people would think this next “success” would be the most important. At thebeginning our goal was to raise $30,000. TheSteering Committee asked for donationsthroughout the Richmond area. The collegeand Greek Life system were avid donors andsupporters of our cause. All of the “dancers”for our Dance Marathon sent information pack-ets to family and friends asking for theirsupport. After all was said and done, we hadgrossed over $28,000. And since money camein after the Dance Marathon, our final totalcame to over $32,000. Can you believe that?A school of 1200 students raising that muchmoney, more than any other school in Virginia.The money is great, but there is one importantaspect that I have learned. We would love togive CMN – Richmond as much money as wepossibly can, but even if we cut a check for $5,a child will still be helped. A stuffed animalwill be in their bed, waiting there to comfortthat child when they come out of surgery oreven awaking from a coma. The soft, comfort-ing touch of a teddy bear may just be the trick

Losing Yourself in Something Bigger Than Yourself

Dance Marathon 2004: Success at its Best

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Miracles • Winter 200522

to help that sick child; just letting them knowsomeone is there with them, taking care ofthem. I know that the soft touch of stuffed ani-mals, the voice of my sister, the diligent work ofthe hospital staff, and the outburst of prayers iswhy my nephew is here today. So, as you cansee, money is important, but it’s not my bestdefinition of success.

This event included a mechanical bull, aball pit, a variety of blow ups, Playstations,Country Music Network stars flying in fromNashville, and an array of other games to play.In my opening speech, I mentioned that by theend of the day, their lives would change. Theywere giving 12 hours of their lives to improvethe lives of children. When their legs wereheavy, they pushed on. When their arms weretired from holding kids, did they put themdown? Not a chance. When a new childstrolled into the facility, the faces of RMC lit uponce again and there was a sudden charge thatjolted through their veins pushing them evenfarther. When I spoke about my nephew alongwith my sister, people listened. Here I was, one of them, but different. My nephew was a

miracle. Recalling the night he was born and allof his recent successes, we cried, and so did theaudience. They understood why they werethere for 12 hours on a Saturday. Somethingmore important than us existed on that day.They were there to celebrate the lives of thechildren and for one day, give these families asense of “normalcy.” In one day, we changedthe mindset of our peers. In one day, we gavethese families a normal life. In one day, wedimished these children’s pain. And what wasthe price? Probably a sore body that felt betterthe next morning. You can’t put a price on success; it can only be measured by the joy and tears of happiness coming from your heart.

For one day our college put down the textbooks, turned off the televisions, and even gotup early. We laughed, we cried, we evendanced…but most importantly we not onlychanged some lives, but also saved some lives along the way.

March 12— RMChosts the 2005 DanceMarathon at theBrock Center.

Log A Load For Kids raisedover $27,000

Credit Unions For Kids—Virginia Credit Unions raised over$25,550

Randolph-Macon College raisedover $32,000 in its fourth annualDance Marathon

The Country Style Dancers ofVirginia raised over $7,000

Anthem LemonAid raised over $35,000.

Congratulations to the CMN-Richmond DevelopmentAdvisory committee andParker and Orleans HomeBuilders on the success of ATime For Miracles Volume I.Sales from this CD generatedover $20,000.

Virginia BASS FederationCMN Classic on BuggsIsland raised over $1,100

Kudos

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Local Sponsors National SponsorsOwens & Minor Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.Choice Entertainment D a i ry QueenGolf Samaritans Ace Hardware CorporationGraphics-3, Inc. McLane Company, Inc.Miller Neighborhood Markets S a m ’s ClubsC o s t c o Marriott International, Inc.R A I FA L o g - A - L o a d - f o r - K i d sUtz Foods Kiwanis & Key Club InternationalComputer Sciences Corporation-Petersburg Coca-Cola CompanyRegency Square Heinz USAPhillip Morris USA Long John Silver’sBank of America Carmike CinemasDominion Virginia Power T.G.I. Friday’sRandolph-Macon College Sigma Chi FraternityCalifornia Pizza Kitchen Phi Mu SororityCox Radio Delta AirlinesS t r a w b e r ry Street Café The American Legion, Auxiliary & O ’ C h a r l e y ’s Sons of the American LegionPleasants Hardware Eckerd CorporationNBC 12 Rite Aid CorporationCentral Virginia Kids Directory Food Lion, Inc.Advantage Sales/Marketing C V SParker and Orleans Home Builders Blockbuster Vi d e oPlan 9 Krispy KremeThe Shops at Willow Lawn K r o g e rA c t i v e n a t i o n C r o s s m a r k

R e - M a xCredit Unions for KidsPersonnel ExpressC o m c a s tAuntie Anne’sGolden CorralGreat Clips

Every year, millions of dollars are raised forCMN hospitals through in-store balloon iconsales and from other fundraisers such as silentauctions, golf tournaments, car washes and raf-fles in the stores and support centers.

The Miracle Balloon program has been inexistence for over 19 years and continues to bethe leading fundraiser for Children’s MiracleNetwork. The paper miracle balloon icon hasbeen a simple, turnkey program enabling spon-sors and hospitals to raise funds on a nationaland local level. The miracle balloons provide the

opportunity to raise funds throughout the year.Thank you to those who have purchased

CMN balloons and to all of our sponsors, bothlocal and national. It is with your continuedsupport that we are able to raise the level ofpediatric health care in central Virginia.

If you, your company or group would like tobecome more involved, be it through sponsor-ship of an event, volunteerism or the balloonsales campaign please contact Lexi Aman,Director of Corporate Relations, atlaman@chva.org or (804) 228-5929.

Visit one of ours p o n s o r s :

Support Children’s MiracleNetwork-Richmond MiracleMonths at the followinglocations:

Wal-Mart Stores March – June

Food Lion April 4 – 30

Krispy Kreme April 18 – 30

Golden Corral April 25 – May 23

Auntie Anne’sApril 25 – May 31

Blockbuster April – May

Miracles • Winter 2005 33Let the campaigns begin!

We would like to thank our sponsors who support CMN-Richmond year round

Miracles • Winter 2005 44

In May of 2001 Greer Elwell, his sisterPeyton and two friends left for soccer practice.Greer’s father, Dennis, was outside their homewhen he heard the accident occur. Moments laterhe received the call confirming his worst fears.All four children were trapped in the vehicle.Thankfully at the scene, all the kids were awakeand responding. They were immediately rushedto VCU Medical Center. Greer and his sisterwere later admitted to the Pediatric IntensiveCare Unit. The next morning Peyton was takento surgery, while upstairs Greer’s condi-tion rapidly worsened. A team ofphysicians worked simultaneously tostabilize Greer, as a tear in his aortawas identified. Greer spent the next sev-eral hours in emergency surgery. Aftersurgery Greer’s other organs slowlybegan to fail. Greer spent the next fiveweeks sedated while on a breathingmachine. During this time doctors dis-covered that Greer had suffered a spinalcord injury and could not feel his legs.Once he was medically stable he wastransferred to Children’s Hospital for anextensive rehabilitation program. It was

at Children’s Hospital with the help of many therapists and lots of hard work that Greer took his first steps.

With much hard work and determination,Greer is now walking without crutches and enjoyscamping with his Dad and his Scout troop.

CMN-Richmond would like to thank Dennisand Greer Elwell for sharing their miracle story.Look for their miracle story in our commercialaired on Comcast Cable.

Save the DateDoc’Tails — All AboardMay 6 at Historic Main Street Station$25 per person/$45 per couple

Anthem LemonAidJuly 15, 16, and 17Kit registration online to begin soon at www.childrensmiraclenetwork.net

Special Thanks to our Miracle Family

Miracles • Winter 200555

Just recently at aluncheon with Wal-Mart associates, we at Children’sMiracle Network-Richmond were treated to a first handaccount of what our hospitals mean to the communitywhere we live. One proud associate shared a personaland touching story about how her son was directlyimpacted by one of the programs our own Children’sHospital offers. She then proceeded to thank us for supporting the hospital that, in her estimation, “changedher son’s life for good”.

Over the holidays, we were able to thank our manysponsors who helped us raise money throughout thecourse of an entire year. One of our proudest moments came from a Food Lion managerwho was able to film a commercial with his son who was treated at VCU Children’sMedical Center. The appreciation this manager showed for the facility that “saved hisson’s life” was abounding.

For three years running, CMN-Richmond has produced a series of holiday cardsdepicting Richmond mid-winter. The series has grown and so has our fondness for theartist who so perfectly captures our fair city during one of its most peaceful seasons. Butrecently we saw her in a very different light as a concerned mother who now uses the veryhospitals she has helped support as an artist for over three years.

Here at Children’s Miracle Network-Richmond, we are always inspired by the power ofconnectivity. These are but a few examples of people, right here in our community, whoutilize Children’s Hospital and VCU Children’s Medical Center. They are fathers and moth-ers, associates and co-workers. They are next-door neighbors and acquaintances. And theymight even be you and me. On behalf of all the parents who have been affected by thehospitals we serve, thank you for helping us continue to make miracles.

Gratefully,

Ryan B. CorriganCMN-Richmond Executive Director

The Direct o rFrom

Miracles • Winter 2005

Non ProfitU.S. Postage

PAIDRichmond, VA

Permit2566

Children’s Miracle Network2924 Brook RoadRichmond, Virginia 23220

If you are interested in volunteering, need more

information regarding ourupcoming events, or would liketo be on our mailing list, please

contact us at:

Children’s Miracle Network2924 Brook Road

Richmond, Virginia 23220Phone: 804/228-5929

Fax: 804/228-5932www.childrensmiraclenetwork.net

RYAN B. CORRIGANExecutive Directorrcorrigan@chva.org

LEXI AMANDirector of Corporate Relations

laman@chva.org

KELLY SURMACEWICZMiracles Coordinator

kesurmacewicz@chva.org

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R a n d o l p h - M a c o nCollege hosts FourthAnnual DanceM a r a t h o nM a rch 12 at the Brock CenterLast year’s event raised over $32,000

Fort Lee CreditU n i o n ’s B o w l - A - T h o nM a rch 19 at 11am at Walnut Hills Lanes in Petersburg4 Bowlers to a team, $30 per bowler2 0 0 4 ’s event raised over $4,800

2005 Kiwanis Bowl-O - F u nApril 9 at Hanover Lanes in Mechanicsville$250 per 5 person teamFor more information call Joe Stankus at 564-56682 0 0 4 ’s event raised over $12,000

Mark Yo u rC a l e n d a r

Since Ukrops began this program in1987, the Golden Gift Program has paidnon-profit organizations more than $10.7million! From January 31 through March 26,2005, each time customers shop using theirValued Customer Card, their purchase totalsare recorded electronically as points (onepoint = one dollar spent).

In May, each Valued Customer's house-hold will receive one Golden Gift certificatewith the total amount of points earned(equal to dollars spent) during the GoldenGift program. Please send your Golden Giftcertificate to Children’s Miracle Network tohelp children in Central Virginia,