The 29th annual Children’s Miracle Network Telethon benefitting Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital will air from 6 p.m. Saturday, June 1, through 6 p.m. Sunday, June 2. The telethon will broadcast live on WGAL-TV8 from the WITF Public Media Center in Harrisburg.
The telethon theme is “Give comfort. Give hope. Give a miracle.” During the broadcast, viewers will be encouraged to call 877-543-7365 or visit PennStateHershey.org/CMN to make a donation to support the Child Life Program at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. Child Life specialists and assistants help patients and their families by offering emotional, developmental and social support. Child Life helps children cope through medical play, age-appropriate activities and distraction or relaxation techniques. The fundraising goal is $225,000.
Throughout the broadcast, WGAL-TV8 hosts will interview patients who have been treated at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, their families and hospital staff. Numerous local businesses and community groups will also present checks for money raised for Children’s Miracle Network over the past year. At the conclusion of the telethon, Children’s Miracle Network will announce the total money raised for the 2012-13 fundraising year. During the telethon, join the conversation online at www.facebook.com/childrensmiraclenetworkhershey and on Twitter using the hashtag #CMNhershey.
Media are invited to localize their coverage of this event by featuring a local Miracle Child. Miracle Children are current and former patients of Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. Three new videos this year feature:
-- 2-year-old Jack Lesoine, of Columbia, who was born 12 weeks premature.
-- 8-year-old Kayley Hart, of Reading, who was treated for septic shock.
-- 6-year-old Jackson Salemme of Spring Grove, who battles a serious seizure disorder.
For photos and additional information about Jack, Kayley, Jackson and other patients, contact Allison Mason in the Children’s Miracle Network office at 717-877-6347 or amason4@hmc.psu.edu.