St Jude's Children's Research Hospital announced
today that there will be a "Miracle Mile Fitness Walk" in Clifton Park on ,
Saturday, November 1, 2003. Town resident Carlie Pelagalli has volunteered to
coordinate this fund raising effort.
St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital
was founded by entertainer Danny Thomas, opening its doors in 1962. It is
dedicated to combating catastrophic diseases that afflict children. St Jude's
covers all costs of care beyond insurance reimbursements. In 1962 only 5% of
children diagnosed with childhood leukemia survived, today approximately 80%
survive due in large part to the scientists and physicians at St Jude's Research
Hospital. Research findings and disease information are shared freely among the
medical community to bolster children's chances of survival worldwide.
In New York State 49 children have been treated , receiving total medical
care for catastrophic illnesses. Thousands more have benefited from the research
findings evolving from St Jude's treatment methods.
The St Jude's Volunteer Service Center, stated that, " we greatly appreciate
the concern Carlie Pelagalli has for our work, and we sincerely hope that the
citizens of Clifton Park will support the "Fitness Walk-A-Thon", to help
preserve our greatest asset.....our children".
Carlie is trying to make this walk more meaningful to Saratoga County and
Clifton Park residents as the Walk will present an opportunity to help 7 month
old Ryan Donohue of Saratoga Springs, NY. Ryan is currently undergoing brain
surgeries to remove tumors at Albany Medical Center and his family needs our
support so that he can go to St. Jude's for follow-up treatment and recovery.
Carlie encourages everyone to visit Ryan's website,
www.littlebabyryan.com
to learn about Ryan's situation and to see photos of this beautiful baby boy.
Carlie explains that, " St Jude's has always been one of my favorite causes and
now trying to help Ryan just makes it more important to try to help."
Walkers and sponsors are needed to make the walk a success. Participants
should call Carlie Pelagalli at 877-7372 or email her at carlpel@aol.com to sign
up and obtain sponsor forms. Volunteers are also needed to help organize the
event the day of the Walk. The Fitness Walk will start at Carlie's home at 5
Spruce St. Clifton Park, in the Heritage Green Development, off Main Street.
Start Times are: Children at 11:30 AM and Adults at 12:00 PM (Noon).
For more information about St Jude's Children's Hospital visit www.stjude.org .
