2008 Woodie Awards
Jagathon participants remember Riley patients
Andrea Kernodle
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: College News
He was a best friend and a smart, funny guy. He played sports all through school and was active in leadership and academics. No one ever thought this could happen to him.
Todd Lewis discovered he had cancer the first semester of his senior year of high school. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and immediately started treatment at Riley Hospital for Children.
Weeks of treatment seemed to give hope, but soon the cancer spread. As his health failed, he continued his positive outlook. His fight ended when he was taken off the ventilator on Oct. 24, 2006.
"His parents couldn't pay for it all on their own even if they wanted to," childhood friend Nicole Salis, a sophomore, said. "Every donation helped."
The story of Todd Lewis fueled the motivation for Salis to participate in Jagathon, a 12-hour event held last weekend that raised more than $12,000 for Riley.
"Todd is truly our angel, he is the best motivation anyone could give," said Salis. "I've known him since second grade; he was my crush all through middle school, and in college, my neighbor. We were pretty close, [He was] one of my very good friends. "
The number of students signed up to participate in Jagathon increased since previous years. Of more than 100 who registered, about 80 people attended the event. Some participants had their own Riley story.
Senior Kara Neal was a Riley kid, and looked forward to being able to give back to the hospital that saved her life.
At eight weeks old, Neal was taken to the emergency room with a high fever. Doctors performed a spinal tap and diagnosed her with spinal meningitis. She was rushed to Riley where she spent a week in isolation.
"I think having been a patient there myself, and knowing what it's like for families to have a child there firsthand, definitely gave me a little more motivation to participate in this event," Neal said.
The money that was raised at the marathon will be used to provide services to children. Riley never turns a patient away, regardless of ability to pay, and relies on the commitment of events and donors. Jason Mueller, assistant manager of communications for Riley Children's Foundation, explains where the funds go.
Todd Lewis discovered he had cancer the first semester of his senior year of high school. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and immediately started treatment at Riley Hospital for Children.
Weeks of treatment seemed to give hope, but soon the cancer spread. As his health failed, he continued his positive outlook. His fight ended when he was taken off the ventilator on Oct. 24, 2006.
"His parents couldn't pay for it all on their own even if they wanted to," childhood friend Nicole Salis, a sophomore, said. "Every donation helped."
The story of Todd Lewis fueled the motivation for Salis to participate in Jagathon, a 12-hour event held last weekend that raised more than $12,000 for Riley.
"Todd is truly our angel, he is the best motivation anyone could give," said Salis. "I've known him since second grade; he was my crush all through middle school, and in college, my neighbor. We were pretty close, [He was] one of my very good friends. "
The number of students signed up to participate in Jagathon increased since previous years. Of more than 100 who registered, about 80 people attended the event. Some participants had their own Riley story.
Senior Kara Neal was a Riley kid, and looked forward to being able to give back to the hospital that saved her life.
At eight weeks old, Neal was taken to the emergency room with a high fever. Doctors performed a spinal tap and diagnosed her with spinal meningitis. She was rushed to Riley where she spent a week in isolation.
"I think having been a patient there myself, and knowing what it's like for families to have a child there firsthand, definitely gave me a little more motivation to participate in this event," Neal said.
The money that was raised at the marathon will be used to provide services to children. Riley never turns a patient away, regardless of ability to pay, and relies on the commitment of events and donors. Jason Mueller, assistant manager of communications for Riley Children's Foundation, explains where the funds go.
Be the first to comment on this story