BLANK CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL TO RECEIVE SPECIAL GIFT

Presented by four girls, as a result of their fundraising efforts for a young boy with leukemia

When: Thursday, March 29th, 2007 at 1:00

Where: 1200 Pleasant St, Des Moines, IA 50309 , Blank Children's Hospital Lobby

What: BLANK CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL will receive a much desired, state-of-the-art $3500 "Starlight Starbright Fun Center" for young patients receiving hospital treatments (http://www.starlightcanada.org/images/newfuncenter.jpg)

Who:

Lacy, Vancy, and Lexy

Kacie, Konner and Janel Mongar

Blank Children's Hospital representatives

Talia Leman from RandomKid

Contact: Dana Leman (515) 224-2012 (h); (515) 314-3065 (c)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Des Moines, Iowa-- “Christmas for Konner” was a project designed by three sisters, Lacy, age 18, Vancy, age 14,  and Lexy Bergan, age 8, and their friend Kacie Mongar, age 14, to benefit Kacie’s 4-year old brother Konner, who has been diagnosed with leukemia, and BLANK CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, where Konner is treated.   The young girls sewed and decorated 50 colorful, over-sized Christmas stockings on December 4, 2006, in East High School’s sewing room, and businesses across the metro region stepped up to hang their stockings, raising more than $20,000 in cash and gifts in two weeks, including a minivan and the up-coming refurbishment of their home.

On March 29th, 2007, at 1:00 in BLANK CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL lobby, the Bergan girls and Kacie Mongar will present the hospital with a “Starlight Starbright Fun Center”, an item purchased with a portion of the funds they raised.

A "Fun Center" is a mobile entertainment unit containing a flat-screen television, DVD player, and Nintendo GameCube™ system.  Whether hospitalized children are nervously awaiting surgery, sitting restlessly during a long treatment, or feeling lonely in their hospital room, the Fun Center helps them cope by providing hours of fun and distraction.

To date, more than 4,000 Fun Centers have been sponsored by companies, foundations and individuals and are being enjoyed at hospitals across North America.  However, the desire for these centers is great and the waitlist long, but for BLANK CHILDREN’S hospital, a new fun center will be made available, courtesy of the 4 young girls and their efforts.

“Konner’s mom told us how much Konner has enjoyed the Fun Centers during his treatments”, remarked Lacy Bergan, “but the hospital only has a couple of them and they aren’t often available.  We feel really great that we are able to provide another one, knowing that it will help kids who are going through difficult treatments, like Konner goes through.”

The Starlight Starbright Foundation helps seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities, and the Fun Center is one of the ways they provide this service.

The Bergan girls and Kacie Mongar received guidance for their Christmas fundraiser from RandomKid  (www.randomkid.org), a non-profit organization founded by 12 year-old Talia Leman after successfully spear-heading a national hurricane relief effort in 2005. RandomKid's mission is to help kids help others. Leman hopes to unveil a national fundraiser for young cancer victims based on the success of the Bergan and Mongar project in December of 2008.

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Media Contact

Dana Leman, Director
RandomKid

Tel  515.224.2012 office  515-314-3065 mobile
Email  dana@randomkid.org