| Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps has been named Honorary Chairman of the third annual Race for Our Kids event on Sunday, June 3. The race, which includes a 10K, 5K and a 1-Mile Family Walk, benefits Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at The Herman & Walter Samuelson Children�s Hospital at Sinai.
"I've been in a lot of challenging races in my life, but none as hard as the race to beat cancer, which hundreds of children in Baltimore battle every day," said Phelps. "It is an honor to be a part of Race for Our Kids, which helps raise much-needed funds for pediatric cancer programs at Sinai Hospital."
In 2006, more than 1,200 people participated in the 10K or 5K race or the 1-Mile Family Walk. The race raised more than $50,000 for the Pediatric Oncology programs at the hospital last year.
Race for Our Kids was created by Scott Phin after his daughter, Peyton, was treated at The Herman & Walter Samuelson Children�s Hospital at Sinai for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Appreciative of the treatment and care his family received from the entire staff at the hospital, Scott made it his personal mission to give back to the place that saved his daughter�s life. An avid runner, Scott decided to create a family-friendly run/walk. Over the past two years, the Race for Our Kids has raised more than $100,000 for Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Sinai.
The Herman & Walter Samuelson Children�s Hospital at Sinai treats thousands of children with cancer and understands the importance of family in a child�s recovery. The philosophy of team-directed patient care offers the best in cutting-edge treatment in an environment that best suits the patient and the family needs.
"Sinai has been at the forefront of providing a family-centered care approach to children and their families over the past decade," said Joseph Wiley, M.D., chairman, the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai. "With the generosity of groups like the Auxiliary, events like Race for Our Kids, and the Herculean efforts and devotion of a man like Scott Phin, we will be able to provide state-of-the-art pediatric care in a patient- and family-friendly facility, which will help Sinai Hospital better serve the children of our community and statewide."
Sinai Hospital recently announced a capital campaign to expand the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children�s Hospital at Sinai. The $30 million vertical expansion will not only expand the square footage and redesign the facility itself, but will also enhance all services provided to pediatric patients and their families. In addition, the new inpatient unit will have all private rooms, each equipped with a sleep area for family members. The expansion will also enhance many features in the Pediatric Department including the current Remote Anesthesiology Unit and the outpatient pediatric Hematology/Oncology clinic and centralize medical specialty office space. This will centralize ambulatory Pediatric care so that ill children can stay within the confines of the hospital instead of traveling to the Medical Office Building across campus.
Sinai
Hospital of Baltimore is a member of LifeBridge Health, a
regional health organization, which also includes Northwest Hospital Center, Levindale Hebrew
Geriatric Center and Hospital, Jewish
Convalescent & Nursing Home, and related subsidiaries and
affiliates.
###
| 
