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31st annual CMN Telethon to air this coming weekend

The 31st annual Children's Miracle Network Telethon benefitting Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital will air from 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, through 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 31. The telethon will broadcast live on WGAL-TV8 from the WITF Public Media Center in Harrisburg.

Children's Miracle Network funds critical patient care, ground-breaking research and life-saving equipment at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. During this year's telethon, viewers will be encouraged to call 1-877-543-7365 or visit PennStateHersheyCMN.org to make a donation to support programs that help families heal, including Child Life, Family-Centered Care and Care Coordination. When a child is sick or injured, the entire family hurts, too. Child Life supports the emotional and social needs of patients, their siblings and their parents. Family-Centered Care coordinators work with families to address their concerns and help them adjust to life in the hospital. Care Coordination provides medically necessary resources for families in need. The telethon fundraising goal for these programs is $250,000.

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. 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 2014-2015 fundraising year. During the telethon, join the conversation online at www.facebook.com/childrensmiraclenetworkhershey and on Twitter using the hashtag #cmnhershey.

Media are encouraged to localize coverage of this event by featuring a local Miracle Child. Miracle Children are current and former patients of Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. A few of the children who will be featured during this year's broadcast include:

  • Anna Steele, age 15, of Millerstown, Perry County, who has numerous medical issues including congenital scoliosis, and who underwent spine surgery at Penn State Hershey. Despite the metal rods in her back, Anna is an incredible dancer. Watch a video telling Anna's story.
  • Leah Myers, age 2, of Hummelstown, Dauphin County, who developed a rare bacterial infection in her lungs that required surgery. Leah is the granddaughter of Dr. John Myers, a pediatric heart surgeon at Penn State Hershey. Learn more about Leah in this video.
  • Sayali Yoder, age 15, of Lancaster, who was born with several physical challenges and has prosthetic legs. Adopted from India when she was two, she has undergone 27 leg surgeries and several facial surgeries. Sayali designed this year's telethon t-shirt, which will be given to donors who pledge $30 a month for at least 12 months or make a one-time gift of $360.
  • Caden Capitani, age 9, of Hershey. Caden has Down syndrome and 16 other conditions. He was recently named the 2015-16 Children's Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH) Champion for Pennsylvania. Caden and his family will travel to Atlanta and Washington, D.C. in June as ambassadors for CMNH. Watch a video telling Caden's story.

If you're having trouble accessing this content, or would like it in another format, please email Penn State Health Marketing & Communications.