Northwell Health Walk Raises $635K to Advance Health Care
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Matthew Gendron, center, is surrounded by
family and friends who turned out for the
Northwell Health Walk at Jones Beach.
Mr. Gendron, 19, received life-saving
treatment at Cohen Children’s Medical Center.
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05/24/2017
WANTAGH, NY — More than 7,000 participants helped raise a record $635,000 at four Northwell Health Walks across Long Island, Westchester and Staten Island on Sunday. From the Jones Beach boardwalk in Wantagh to Tanger Outlets in Riverhead, supporters laced up to support women and children’s health initiatives, and cardiac and cancer care.
Mr. and Mrs. Met greeted walkers at the Jones Beach 5K while Zumba instructors warmed up the crowd at Midland Beach in Staten Island, part of a festive day with a serious goal: Funds go to several area hospitals, with the Jones Beach walk benefiting Northwell’s Katz Institute for Women’s Health and Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park.
“This day is about empowering women and their families and helping them on the path to wellness,” said Stacey E. Rosen, MD, vice president of women's health at the Katz Institute for Women's Health. “The support we received – both in turnout and through donation – at all four venues is absolutely fantastic. The Katz Institute for Women's Health is one of the beneficiaries and we are committed to the health of women of all ages through clinical programs, education, research and community partnerships.”
Since its inception, the Northwell Health Walk has raised nearly $3.3 million. Donations will be collected through June 9.
It will also save lives. Matthew Gendron is proof. His team, which marched en masse at Jones Beach, was simply happy to see the 19-year-old from Howard Beach, Queens, still standing after he was rushed to Cohen Children’s in septic shock last May. “I was 30 minutes away from dying,” said Mr. Gendron. “I’m walking to say thank you to the doctors who saved my life and to raise money so other kids can receive the same care and go on to have a happy life.”
Mr. Gendron was born with a rare blood disease, known as Auto Immune Lympho Proliferative Syndrome (ALPS), which is defined by a low platelet count. Cohen Children’s previously treated his preexisting condition. But one morning last May, he woke up very ill and was rushed to Cohen, where he passed out in the elevator upon arrival. Medical staff quickly diagnosed Mr. Gendron and he recovered after five weeks of treatment in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
“No matter how bad it got, I knew Matthew was in the best hands and I never once doubted that they would save my son,” said his mother, Holly Gendron. “We are raising money so that other families can receive the support and care my family was given.”
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About Northwell Health
Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer, with 22 hospitals and over 550 outpatient facilities. We care for more than two million people annually in the metro New York area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 62,000 employees – 15,000+ nurses and about 3,900 physicians, including more than 2,800 members of Northwell Health Physician Partners – are working to change health care for the better. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institute. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine and the School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. And we offer health insurance through CareConnect. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu.
Contact:
Jason Molinet
516-321-6705
jmolinet@northwell.edu