Kids Health Matters
Topic: Giving

Volunteers at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare help patients and families feel more relaxed. Volunteer Kalpana Parsons says,“The best part of my day is when I can get a patient to smile!"

Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare hosted two successful events aimed at helping kids of all abilities know the joy of riding a bike.

You know, there might be nothing more Minnesotan than lacing up a pair of skates and heading out to the rink. “You bet, you’d better believe it,” says Tony Lang of Loretto, Minnesota. “I grew up playing hockey my whole life. It’s a family tradition. In fact, when we had kids I built a rink in our backyard.”

On Pedal in Place race day, participants jump on stationary bikes, battle it out with other teams, and race to good health—all while raising funds for kids who have cerebral palsy or other lifelong conditions. Many Gillette families say the adaptive bikes are helpful for their child's physical therapy and emotional well-being.

“I don’t think it would surprise anyone to learn that a lot of children love dogs,” says Emily DeBreto. “While we’ve had volunteers bring in therapeutic dogs at the hospital for comfort, we wanted to get our dogs more involved with the actual functional aspects of the therapy we’re providing.”

Tall, red-haired and boisterous, it’s not a surprise to learn that Connor plays on the football team back in North Dakota, or that he’s pretty popular.

Kelsey's attitude is so affecting, she says that most people don’t notice at first. Kelsey was born with a radial club hand, and her left arm is significantly shorter than her right. This means that when she’s instructing yoga—perhaps the most public of exercises—she’s essentially doing most of it, one-handed.

One of the sweetest fundraisers of the year is coming soon. On Miracle Treat Day, a portion of Dairy Queen Blizzard Treats sold are donated to Gillette. Learn how Miracle Treat Day is just one example of the generous support Gillette receives from Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

"We did this to honor Mom and Jim,” says Jean Burkhardt of her family's gift to Gillette. Learn how this Minnesota farm family discovered Gillette in the 1960s and how a mom's love for her son led to a generous donation.

Gavin, age 5, recently achieved his dream of bike-riding with his older brother! See how fundraising helped give Gavin a adapted bike of his own.

On June 4, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare families and supporters gathered at Como Park to walk, roll and have a blast—all while raising funds to help purchase communication devices and sports equipment for children who have disabilities.

Join us at noon, Monday, May 1, as Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare’s favorite expat and former British royal guard, Richard Lett, will be bringing his sailboat to the hospital.

If you want to know how a former guard to the British Royal Family wound up racing his sailboat to help Minnesota children who have disabilities, follow along below.

As a child in the 1940s, Lyn Baier traveled with her mother by bus from the family farm in southwestern Minnesota to the old Gillette building near Lake Phalen in St. Paul. She spent months away from home getting treatment for her deformed right leg.

Maddy’s mom describes her as “a warrior” — and rightly so. Maddy has spina bifida. But she also has much more: extraordinary compassion, a keen sense of humor, and a vibrant personality. Meet Maddy and learn why she’s excited to represent Gillette during the Walk & Roll 3K on June 18, 2016.

April 10 marks the beginning of national volunteer week, and as we reflect on the work done by our volunteers over the past year, it becomes clear that they deserve a round of applause. In 2015-16, 306 of the weekly volunteers logged more than 12,000 hours over the course of their 4,000 visits to serve.

“When I was a kid in the hospital, the nurses and registration staff remembered my name when I’d do my check-ups, and that always made me feel welcome. It’s incredible to think that now I’m on the other side of the desk recognizing families by name…it’s come full circle.” –Ed Jenkins

When Andrew Haldeman needed emergency surgery after breaking his arm during a wrestling match, his anesthesiologist noticed something unusual. Learn how the discovery proved lifesaving, and why it inspired Andrew to give back to Gillette.

Brittany Carothers rides in the Pedal in Place stationary bike race each year because she remembers her son’s expression of pure joy when he took his first ride on an adapted tricycle. Pedal in Place raises money to help Gillette purchase special needs bikes for patients.

Year after year, without fuss or advertising, John and Kathy Weatherston of John’s Pizza Café in the Como neighborhood of St. Paul spend Christmas Eve raising funds for Gillette. Find out what inspires them, and their dedicated employees, to make a difference.