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Miracles • Summer 2006
Anthem LemonAid Details
CREDIT FOR VOLUNTEER HOURS:
Participation can be verified for student volunteer
hours for school credit.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE: Families, businesses
and community groups are encouraged to
volunteer to host stands. Participants receive a
FREE LemonAid Kit with Country Time®
lemonade, cups, pitchers, signs and “I Helped
Make a Miracle” stickers. Prizes awarded for the
most festive lemonade stands. All participants are
invited to attend the LemonAid celebration hosted
by CMN-Richmond from 3-5 p.m. on the front
lawn of Children’s Hospital, Saturday, July 15.
LEMONAID KIT PICKUP: LemonAid Kits can
be picked up at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue
Shield headquarters, located at the corner of
Staples Mill and Broad St., on the following dates:
Friday, July 7 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday,
July 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Monday, July
10 from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Join the Fun!
HOW TO SIGN UP: Registration is underway at
www.childrensmiraclenetwork.net or call (804)
228-5929 for information. Registration is limited to
1,000 stands so don’t delay in signing up!
Children’s Miracle Network
2924 Brook Road
Richmond, Virginia 23220
If you are interested in
volunteering, need more
information regarding our
upcoming events, or would like
to be on our mailing list, please
contact us at:
TO FIND A LEMONAID STAND IN YOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD AREA:
Visit the CMN-Richmond website at
www.childrensmiraclenetwork.net. Go to the
LemonAid page and click on the “Stand
Locations” link for a full listing of addresses of
participating lemonade stands.
Non Profit
U.S. Postage
PAID
Richmond, VA
Permit
2566
Children’s Miracle Network
2924 Brook Road
Richmond, Virginia 23220
Phone: 804/228-5929
Fax: 804/228-5932
www.childrensmiraclenetwork.net
RYAN B. CORRIGAN
Executive Director
[email protected]
LEXI AMAN
Director of Corporate Relations
[email protected]
KELLY SURMACEWICZ
Miracles Coordinator
[email protected]
Design by Graphics 3.
Your feedback is welcome.
www.childrensmiraclenetwork.net
Miracles
Children’s Miracle Network Newsletter •
Richmond, Virginia • Summer 2006
Anthem LemonAid Weekend: July 14-16
Special James Center Lemonade Stand Kicks Off Community-Wide Benefit
I
f you make it to the James Center plaza for
a cool glass of Country Time® lemonade on
Friday, July 14, you’ll recognize Shay
Edmunds, 7, by her lemon-yellow “I Am One of
the Miracles” t-shirts. During the following two
days, Whitney Ferrell, 14, will wear hers as she
runs a lemonade stand in Richmond’s West
End. Both girls are cancer survivors and both
are out to prove this year’s Anthem LemonAid
theme – that something as simple as a $1 glass
of lemonade can fight cancer.
Several friends and supporters wearing “I
Helped Make a Miracle Happen” t-shirts will
join Shay to help run the downtown
Richmond stand which, for the second
year in a row, kicks off Anthem
LemonAid weekend. Many of these
young helpers volunteer to show
support for friends and family who
have battled – and continue to
battle – conditions such as
cancer. All donate their
time for a great
cause: raising funds
for Children’s
Whitney Ferrell shows
off the featured
product
Miracle Network-Richmond during this annual
special event involving lemonade stands at
neighborhood and business locations
throughout the Richmond area.
After hearing about LemonAid, Shay’s
mom, Erin, who works for Workplace
Innovations located in the James Center
building, obtained permission from the James
Center to set up a lemonade stand during
lunchtime. Her company donated bottled water
for the lemonade, Vie de France donated ice,
and the weather helped out as well with an
appropriately hot day for added sales success.
Erin is happy to work alongside her
daughter to support an organization that
raises funds for VCU Children’s Medical
Center, the local pediatric facility
whose “wonderful staff” was “a
godsend” when they truly needed
support. Their efforts are also
inspired by family members who
battled cancer and by Erin’s best
friend, who lost her young son
to the disease. “To me it’s
very important,” Erin
comments. “It’s an easy
Continued on page 2...
See the back
page for
information on
how you can
support Anthem
LemonAid
The mission of Children’s
Miracle Network is to
generate awareness for
programs and raise funds
to benefit children served
in our member hospitals –
Children’s Hospital and
VCU Children's Medical
Center.
2
Miracles • Summer 2006
way to give back to other kids who may not be
as lucky as Shay. She had a pretty easy battle
compared to many others.”
Similarly around town on Saturday and
Sunday, children, families, businesses,
community organizations and church youth
groups will volunteer to set up, decorate and run
stands at locations ranging from front yards to
community pools, little league fields and stores.
On Sunday, Long & Foster® will host stands at
their many realtor locations.
With support of event sponsors, CMNRichmond provides free LemonAid Kits and
hosts a celebration on Saturday, July 15, where
participants turn in proceeds and enjoy an
Erin (back row) and Shay (center) Edmunds with Anthem
LemonAid supporters at the James Center stand in 2005.
afternoon of fun and Radio Disney’s pop group
RD Frequency. All proceeds support CMNRichmond member hospitals – Children’s
Hospital of Richmond and VCU Children’s
Medical Center, where both Shay and Whitney
were treated for a similar form of cancer.
Shay was diagnosed with neuroblastoma
when she was just 15 months old. After her
pediatrician discovered a mass in her abdomen
during a routine checkup, a biopsy and other
tests revealed a malignant tumor wrapped
around Shay’s aorta and the tube connecting
her kidney and bladder. Following three and a
half months of chemotherapy, the tumor was
surgically removed and luckily “there’s been no
sign of it since,” Erin says. Shay is now a busy
first-grader at Sandston Elementary School who
enjoys art projects and spending time doing
outdoor activities such as camping and fishing.
She’s been talking about the lemonade stand all
year, according to her mom, and inviting all her
friends to come. “I want to help other people
who are sick like I was, ‘cause I don’t want
them to be sick,” Shay says. “I hope more
people come this year.”
Four years ago Whitney underwent 18
months of treatment involving chemotherapy,
radiation, a bone marrow transplant and eight
surgeries. Now in remission, she’s an eighthgrader at Short Pump Middle School who
“loves” being on her swim team, playing
basketball, and spending time with friends. On
Sundays she often volunteers to walk dogs for a
local dog rescue and adoption organization.
Whitney’s participated in LemonAid for the
past three years and hopes to encourage many
others to get involved. Looking toward a hopeful
future without the threat of cancer, it’s important
to her to help “raise money to fund research
so other kids won’t have to go through what I
went through.”
Both Shay and Whitney serve as event
spokespersons for promotional radio ads on Lite
98 and Radio Disney. Anthem LemonAid, which
raised over $54,000 last year through the
support of 2,200 children, 269 neighborhood
stands and 338 businesses, gives both a chance
to inspire Richmonders of all ages to join
together to help many children and teens facing
similar challenges.
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Miracles • Summer 2006
Mark your calendar
June 19 – Credit Unions Golf
Tournament
There’s still time to sign up for a day of
golfing fun to benefit Children’s Miracle
Network-Richmond! 9 a.m. shotgun start,
4-person Captain’s Choice tournament at
Stonehenge Golf and Country Club. Cost is $90
per golfer. Contact Susan Adams at Entrust
Federal Credit Union at (804) 353-8012 x 8710
for details or registration information. This
tournament raised over
$7,000 for CMNRichmond last year.
June 23 –
Children Fore
Children
Youth golfers between
the ages of 8 and 17 can
tee-off in a benefit for
Children’s Hospital of
Richmond at the Children Fore Children youth
golf tournament at First Tee in Chesterfield.
Registration is $25 after June 1 and includes 18
holes and a picnic lunch. For more information,
call Ashley Langford, Children’s Hospital’s
Special Events Coordinator, at (804) 228-5827
or visit www.childrenshosp-richmond.org/golf.
Davenport & Company and Wal-Mart sponsor
this event.
June 24 – Stone Soul Music and
Food Festival
National and regional artists bring Classic
Soul, R&B, Gospel, Funk and GO-GO! music to
town and 12 local restaurants offer culinary
delights as they compete for the People’s Choice
Award for best soul food at the 2nd Annual
Stone Soul Music and Food Festival on Brown’s
Island, from 12 noon to 9 p.m. Radio One (KISS
99.3 & 105.7, Praise 104.7 and Power 92.1)
once again brings this event to Richmond.
Tickets are $20; kids 6 and under are free,
7-12, $10. A portion of proceeds benefits
CMN-Richmond.
For more information, call Radio One
at (804) 672-9299.
October 14 – American Family
Fitness 5K Walk & 10K Run
Be part of a day of healthy fun to benefit
Children’s Hospital! The fourth annual
American Family Fitness 5K Walk & 10K Run
start and finish at Children’s Hospital’s main
location and wind through Richmond’s historic
Northside. A one-mile Kids Run and a stroller
decorating contest sponsored by Mix 103.7 are
also part of the day’s festivities. Registration is
$25; ($30 after Oct. 1). Register today at
www.kalerunning.com.
Upcoming Volunteer
Opportunities
July 14-16 – Anthem LemonAid
Volunteers needed to assist with
lemonade kit assembly and to set up
and run stands. Register online at
www.childrensmiraclenetwork.net.
October 21 – Chick-fil-A® Charity
Dodgeball Tournament
Volunteers needed to help with set-up and
take-down and to help run the event. There
will be opportunities for both individuals
and groups to participate. Please contact
Kelly Surmacewicz at (804) 228-5929 if you
are interested in volunteering for this event.
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Miracles • Summer 2006
Greater Richmond
Convention Center
October 21
Dip, duck, dive and dodge to help raise funds for CMN-Richmond
and Schools for Niger, Africa – we invite you to get in the game!
The tournament is open to teams of 6-10 Youth, Teen or Adult players.
Prizes awarded for each division – including the coveted “Free Chick-fil-A®
for One Year” award! A $200 team registration fee
includes two matches, player sweatbands and
Chick-fil-A® coupons.
Visit www.cfadodgeball.richmond.com
for details. Sponsorship opportunities starting at
$250 are available; contact Ryan Corrigan,
CMN-Richmond Executive Director, at
(804) 228-5929 for details.
20 Courts!
400 Teams!
4,000 Players!
Great event for
business teams &
sponsors!
Miracles • Summer 2006
3
Meet Anthem LemonAid Heros from 2005
Anthem LemonAid sponsors include Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Country
Time® Lemonade, Lite 98, Long and Foster, Q 94, Radio Disney and official prize
sponsor Paramount’s Kings Dominion.
In their third year participating, Emily Lewis and Megan
Vela have truly become pros – with knockout decorations
and top sales results at their Mechanicsville stand.
Faith Henley and Tori
Sellars incorporated a
“Survivors” theme
into their stand in
Powhatan.
Lots of helping hands pitched in to support this
West End LemonAid location.
Children as young
as 5-year-old
Hannah Capehart
volunteered. She
set up a stand at
Joe’s Market in
Richmond.
4
Miracles • Summer 2006
Start Your Engines!
Wal-Mart Mini Grand Prix Races In Richmond
In a mini version of a real grand prix race,
amateur racers and CMN supporters can take
their chances with the hairpin turns, challenging
bends and flat-out speed of the Richmond
International Raceway (RIR) during Richmond’s
first ever Wal-Mart Mini-Grand Prix.
During the weekend of Sept. 15-16, go-kartsize cars with NASCAR-styled 3.5 horsepower
engines capable of 30 mph racing speed will
line the RIR track to support event
partners Children’s Miracle
Network-Richmond and
Children’s Hospital of
Richmond while
competing to take
the checkered flag
in this fast-paced,
fun event.
Richmond area WalMart and Sam’s Club locations bring the mini
grand prix to town. “This has been held in several
areas of the country and we thought Richmond
would be a natural fit for this event,” comments
Jeff Kraus, Richmond Market Manager for WalMart. “Racing and Richmond seem synonymous.”
Kraus hopes to make this a city-wide event
by recruiting the support of as many local
businesses and organizations as possible, along
with vendor partners. Several local Wal-Mart
stores are planning to sponsor teams.
Race teams consist of two drivers, three pit
crew members and one alternate driver. Each
race involves 20-lap heats on a 1/3 mile course
with a mandatory driver change and two pit crew
tire changes. After all heats are finished a
championship race determines overall
champions. All participants are entered in the
Best Customized Car, Best Team Uniform and
Fastest Pit Crew contests.
The cars feature a highly-styled racing body
complete with a “show bar.” They are shipped
directly to sponsors who can customize the
vehicles in true NASCAR style with sponsor
logos, decals, colors and the team’s name.
Sponsors own the vehicles for future display and
future race opportunities. All sponsors receive
signage at the open-to-the-public race day event
as well as a reserved spot in the in-field with first
right of refusal for the next race opportunity. With
safety in mind, all drivers are required to wear
Department of Transportation-approved racing
helmets with appropriate face gear.
Similar events have proven successful in
supporting Children’s Miracle Network, especially
in cities known for their love of racing such as
Raleigh, NC. “Richmond is such a loyal race city
and this provides such a unique and fun way to
support kids,” says Lexi Aman, CMN-Richmond’s
Director of Corporate Relations. “We hope
businesses and corporations choose to get
involved with sponsorship of the event by
entering a team. We promise lots of excitement
for friends and family members on race day.”
For information on sponsoring a team in
the Wal-Mart Mini Grand Prix, contact Ryan
Corrigan, CMN-Richmond Executive Director,
at (804) 228-5929 or [email protected].
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Miracles • Summer 2006
Kudos
throughout the day. “Having children and families
there for students to meet is what really makes the
event special and what makes students want to
continue the event year after year,” Ashley adds.
A sincere thank you to all Children’s Miracle
Network-Richmond sponsors and supporters for
their efforts during 2005. In May, the CMNRichmond leadership team presented their 2006
disbursement – a total of $364,000 – to Children’s
Hospital of Richmond and VCU Children’s Medical
Center. The funds will be shared equally between
both member hospitals.
A portion of proceeds from sales of original
artwork during a month-long exhibition by local
artists Will Turner and Rebecca Brooks raised
around $2,000 for CMN-Richmond. Stir Crazy
Café, a neighborhood coffee house that features
breakfast, lunch, and “a perfect blend” of coffees,
lattes, desserts and delights, hosted the opening
reception and exhibition. Plans are underway for a
similar “Art in Bloom” event in spring 2007. Stir
Crazy Café is open daily and located at 4015
MacArthur Avenue in the Northside of Richmond.
From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on March 18, more than
200 Randolph-Macon College students danced to
80’s grooves, television show theme songs, country
tunes, beach music and much more during the
college’s fifth annual Dance Marathon to benefit
CMN-Richmond. Every hour of the event
incorporated a different theme complete with music,
games, food and entertainment.
CMN-Richmond Intern Ashley Hughes
participated in Dance Marathon for four years and
served on the Steering Committee for two. She says
she’s been fortunate to see the “incredibly
important” event grow each year. “What made this
year’s event particularly meaningful was having
children from the hospital attend,” she says. In
addition to these special guests, families of children
treated by Children’s Hospital and VCU Children’s
Medical Center shared their “Miracle Stories”
Each year student and campus organizations
form teams that pledge to raise money by dancing
throughout the day. This year’s event raised almost
$20,000, bringing the total money raised by
Randolph-Macon College in five years to over
$120,000.
A special thanks to the Manchester Middle
School Band who shared their talents during an
April 25 benefit performance that raised funds for
featured charities including CMN-Richmond.
Please Send Us Your Email
Children’s Miracle Network-Richmond
plans to start publishing the Miracles Newsletter
in an e-newsletter format in 2007. This will
enable the organization to donate a higher
percentage of funds raised to member hospitals
to support CMN-Richmond’s goal of raising the
level of pediatric health care in central
Virginia. Please share your email address by
visiting the CMN-Richmond website at
www.childrensmiraclenetwork.net.
The 2006 Dance
Marathon
Steering
Committee
presents
proceeds from
the 12-hour
event.