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Health & Fitness

One Goal: Race to the Finish Line for Children's National and Our Community's Most Vulnerable

Guest blogger Carrie Marriott is an active philanthropist and advocate for children’s health and education, and a busy mother of four children under the age of 12. Youngest son, Henry, is one of the compelling reasons why Carrie is chairing the second annual Race for Every Child for Children’s National Health System in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia area to ensure that all children have access to world class health care, regardless of their ability to pay.

Every year, Children’s National Health System admits upwards of 15,000 children to the hospital from the Washington, DC area, nationally and around the world, as well as another 108,000+ emergency visits and close to 500,000 outpatient visits. These children and their families come through the hospital’s welcoming doors with worry and hope. And we were no different.

Our youngest son Henry was just 10 months old at the time when he suffered second-degree burns from grabbing a hot oven door that was open only for an instant -- an instant that felt like an eternity as his little hands bubbled up immediately into big blisters. He was inconsolable and in tremendous pain. My first thought was: he must be treated at Children’s National because of its unique pediatric burn unit.

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They worked a miracle. Our little Henry had no nerve damage and no scarring. Five years later, you would never know he’d been through such trauma, but the reality and pain of that moment still is vivid in my mind today.

Today, my family and I are proud to be in a race of another kind – to get to the finish line to help raise $1 million through the second annual Race for Every Child 5K run/walk on September 13. The race promises to be a fun-filled family day with a serious purpose: To bring communities together to encourage children’s health and wellness, and to raise much-needed funds that help the hospital – consistently ranked a top pediatric hospital in the nation – provide world-class preventive and critical medical care to every family in need, regardless of their ability to pay.

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As Race chair, I invite our communities to get their running shoes on, in person and virtually, to ensure that every child, every family, every community member has a chance at a healthy life.

Children’s National is the unwavering voice for the vulnerable. Last year alone, the 303-bed hospital provided about $41.3 million in uncompensated care for some of the nation’s most vulnerable children. With its groundbreaking research, unrelenting advocacy and a skilled medical team, Children’s National has made lasting, profound effects on pediatric patients, improving health outcomes.

Not only do they treat our kids with fierce dedication and unparalleled care, they champion tough issues like fighting child abuse and neglect, and pioneer cutting-edge diagnostics in fetal and newborn care.

The Race for Every Child will take place at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., right off Pennsylvania Avenue, “America’s Main Street.” Last year, the inaugural race drew participants from 26 states and the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. Superheros will be waiting for our children with medals at the finish line. There will be agility courses, hula hoopla fun, football madness, sports inflatables, potato sack games, face painting and more!

Please join us and register for the Race. Rally your families, friends, organizations, and neighborhoods  to get engaged – for all of our children. Sign up to walk, run, stroll or volunteer at RaceForEveryChild.org

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