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Kid For A Night goes the distance, raises nearly $400,000 for St. Luke's Children's!
For the second year in a row, St. Luke’s Children’s annual Kid For A Night event was held virtually, but our community stepped up to help kids – and made it a golden night.
The 29th annual event’s theme was “Go The Distance,” with an Olympic flare, er, flair. The motto? Reach higher, go faster and become stronger for the kids. Nearly $400,000 was raised, including $30,795 in cash donations during Friday, June 4’s live program.
“We couldn’t be more grateful for our community,” said Maegan Krahn, manager of special events for the St. Luke’s Foundation. “Our sponsors, donors and volunteers have weathered two years of non-traditional events with us, and their support simply hasn’t wavered – they’ve leaned in, generously offered help, and said ‘Yes’ at every twist and turn.”
The event kicked off with a virtual torch-passing across the St. Luke’s Health System and that included Idaho Gov. Brad Little. Providers explained why the community’s help was vital in efforts to help pediatric care, and patients and their families told their stories of how they were helped by St. Luke’s Children’s.
Hadley Alexander, a young Boise girl, was featured in her fight against cystinosis, which causes buildups of cell-killing crystals, particularly in the kidneys and eyes. Only about 2,000 people have the condition. But Hadley’s future looks bright because of her treatment.
“The fact we have a children’s hospital and a trauma center for kids, we’re so lucky,” said Hadley’s mom, Marcu.
Added Hadley: “I am brave and I am a St. Luke’s kid!”
Also included in the event was the story of Brinley Oldham, Idaho's 2020 Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Champion. When she was 8 years old in April 2019, she was trampled by one of the cattle on her family's ranch. St. Luke's Children's had opened its trauma unit two weeks prior and was able to help her to a full recovery from collapsed lungs, broken ribs and a lacerated spleen. Watch Brinley's story here.
Presenting sponsors the Jayden DeLuca Foundation and Norco hosted watch parties. Event sponsors donated more than 450 meals back to hospital staff, while community businesses donated more silent auction packages than ever. All of them sold.
Since the event’s inception in 1992, nearly $10 million has been raised.
And a note for future Olympians: Mark your calendars now for the 30th presentation of Kid For A Night, June 3, 2022, and expect a return of the usual mix of wild costumes, fun games and in-person celebration of St. Luke’s kids!
About The Author
Dave Southorn works in the Communications and Marketing department at St. Luke's.
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