Miles with Meaning

Throughout our history, CMN Hospitals has relied on the support and involvement of communities of individuals that are as varied as the hospitals in our network. We have found tremendous success in bringing communities together and giving them an opportunity to do extraordinary things for the kids. This type of fundraising has a transformative impact not only on our network but also on the lives of those who become involved. This is the case with a special group of runners who raise funds for CMN Hospitals to participate in the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend.  Since CMN Hospitals became involved with the race weekend in 2014, these Miracle Makers have raised over $1 Million.  They are helping to change kids health and change the future, one mile at a time.

One of our Miracle Makers is Katie has her own very special reason for running.  We are honored to share her story here, in her own words:

I became involved with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals when my twins, Logan and Lennon, were born 7 weeks early and required immediate and ongoing care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Spending the first few weeks of their life in the hospital was overwhelming for me, and I began running to work through them, finding peace in the solitude. Once they came home, we invested in a worthy jogging stroller and began logging miles together.

When my twins were 5 months old I signed up for my first race and ran the 5k during the 2013 Walt Disney World Wine & Dine weekend. The next scheduled runDisney event was Princess weekend and though it was sold out, I saw the link for Charity Entries. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals was the presenting sponsor of the race weekend. It made perfect sense to run for the organization that supports the life-saving research and treatments at our local children’s hospital. My first Princess 1/2 Marathon was just after their first birthday, and I am overjoyed that they have joined me for the past six years as Kid’s Race participants.

Possibly due to his premature birth, Logan has continued to face additional struggles, both medical and psychological. We are lucky to have a CMN hospital nearby, John’s Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, where Logan receives ongoing care and monitoring for hearing deficiencies that appear to be improving. Just before turning 6, he was additionally diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. He also went through a tonsillectomy and adenectomy to correct obstructive sleep apnea in an effort to improve his cognitive functioning. Throughout all these hurdles, he remains resilient. Logan loves his caregivers, and they love him back.

This race is close to my heart. During Princess Weekend I run for my boys and the 10 million other kids just like them who are treated each year at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Every step has a purpose.

CMN Hospitals salutes Katie and all our Miracle Makers who will gather together at the Walt Disney World Resort in February. 

CMN Hospitals is proud to be the celebratory charity of the 2020 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend.  Funds received in association with the event weekend, from our Miracle Makers, donations made by other runners and a generous donation made by runDisney on behalf of the event weekend volunteers support CMN Hospitals’ operations. For every dollar supporting our operating budget, CMN Hospitals is able to turn it into $10 in donations to local member hospitals that use the funds where they’re needed most.