March 5, 2018

Second Annual #ChildrensHospitalsWeek Gets Underway

One year after the inaugural #ChildrensHospitalsWeek kicked off, Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation is back to celebrate the awareness week for kids’ health care once again from March 5-11, 2018.

“In Saskatchewan, celebrating #ChildrensHospitalsWeek is very important as we are one of two provinces in Canada without a dedicated maternal and children’s hospital,” says Jana Len, Director, Annual Giving at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation. “We are not only celebrating the extraordinary pediatric care coming to our province today and in the future, we’re striving to raise funds for our new hospital and increase awareness on why it is especially needed as a referral centre for the over 200,000 children in our province.”

#ChildrensHospitalsWeek, a week-long initiative in collaboration with Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals, exists to shine a light on the importance of children’s hospitals and how donations help kids get the best care possible when they need it. In Saskatchewan, children who require urgent or ongoing medical care have yet to step foot into a facility specifically designed for children, which means #ChildrensHospitalsWeek is a timely reminder of the importance of Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital, currently 80 per cent complete.

With celebrations taking place across North America, Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation will join the festivities while staying close to home in support of nine-year-old Payton Sernick, the 2018 Saskatchewan Champion Child for the Champions Program presented by Walmart Canada. Payton is back in hospital after relapsing with Lymphoma in late 2017, despite once believing she was cancer-free. Her family anticipates an up-to six-month battle for treatment, surgery, chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

While celebrating from afar, Payton is eager to have the province of Saskatchewan join her in the following activities, March 5-11:

• A Facebook Live-athon Wednesday, March 7, at 7:30 p.m. (EST): The exciting, live event will feature appearances by various celebrities, inspiring kids who represent the 10 million kids treated annually at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals throughout Canada and the U.S. Catch the action at facebook.com/CMNHospitals.
• Participate in the #ChildrensHospitalsWeek bandage campaign on social media: Sport a bandage and write Payton’s name on it or the name of a child who has benefitted from a children’s hospital, take a photo and share it on your social media accounts using the #ChildrensHospitalsWeek
• Join the Twitch stream for Extra Life United from Thursday, March 8 – Saturday, March 10: Charity gamers from all over the world join together at Extra Life United in Orlando to make a big impact on children’s hospitals through gaming. Participants attend panels and workshops and game in a tournament to unlock donations for local CMN hospitals. The event will be broadcast live on Twitch. Extra Life program raised more than $40 million for CMN Hospitals since 2008.  Saskatchewan’s own Nolan Blackstock will also be returning for the third year in a row after previous success at the event raising $7,430.
• Follow along with Payton’s video diaries: At pattisonchildrens.ca, you can follow along with Payton on her journey towards beating cancer once and for all. Be inspired as she shares what it’s like undergoing treatment, chemotherapy and her biggest surgery ever all while being away from home.
• Donate: Your donations made during #ChildrensHospitalsWeek will stay in Saskatchewan to help fund maternal and children’s health care needs, including research, equipment enhancements, and the new Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital.

During #ChildrensHospitalsWeek, the annual “Momentum” event at Walt Disney World takes place. It involves a three-day gathering of 62 Champion kids across North America, along with CMN Hospital representatives and corporate and media partners. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is one of North America’s leading children’s charities, raising funds for more than 170 children’s hospitals, including 14 across Canada. Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation has been the sole Saskatchewan member of Children’s Miracle Network since 1993. 100% of funds raised through the partnership stay right here in Saskatchewan.

Champion Child Payton Sernick received a magical hospital bedside surprise.