MITCHELL – Saturday, August 26, in the Mitchell Ace Hardware parking lot, Darrell Burkett and Ben Franklin/Ace Hardware are teaming up with Mitchell Kiwanis and Mitchell Tri Kappa’s assistance to raise money for Riley’s Children’s Hospital.
Located on 1206 West Main Street in Mitchell, the event will run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Magic Morning Bakery, the Orange County REMC, and Ace Hardware have pitched in, donating cookies, hot dogs, and popcorn to support the event.
All the food will be handed out for free or with a donation. Come on out to shop at the store, enjoy food, and round up your total purchase to support Riley, or just donate.
Darrell will also bring his special “Riley Corvette”, and weather permitting, other vehicles of interest will be available to view.
The story behind the fundraiser:
Darrell Burkett’s grandson, Clydon Powers came down with croup-like symptoms when he was only a year old. Clydon was on steroids for five months, and showed no signs of improving. After a change of pediatricians, Clydon and his parents were immediately sent to Riley.
Clydon was diagnosed with Subglottic Stenosis. Subglottic stenosis is a narrowing of the airway below the vocal cords and above the trachea. Clydon was subject to the third level of the condition. His airway was the size of a coffee straw, which meant he couldn’t cough up the fluids that were collecting in his lungs, and as he grew, there wasn’t enough oxygen to support him.
To continue growing and living, Clydon needed surgery that would widen his airway. This surgery, laryngotracheal reconstruction surgery was performed by a doctor at Riley Children’s Hospital.
Today, three-year-old Clydon is healthy, and though certain precautions must be taken, he wouldn’t have made it this far without Riley.
Darrell and his wife Sherry are incredibly grateful for Riley’s expertise. “It’s more than a job for them,” said Darrell “And if you’ve been around the hospital, you know – they laugh with us and cry with us.”
The fundraiser began when Darrell and Sherry decided to help support the Hospital that saved their grandson’s life. A long-time family friend, Suzanne Patton, a corporate sponsor, heard of the idea, and with her support, the event took on another level.
Donations from businesses and the community continue to pour in, and Darrell hopes that the fundraiser will grow in the coming years.
About Riley Children’s Hospital:
Riley is Indiana’s largest and most skilled pediatric system, with over 50 locations across the state. As one of the nation’s leading healthcare networks specifically for children, the multidisciplinary team of pediatric primary care and specialists can deliver and coordinate healthcare for every child with expertise in all areas of pediatric health.
Riley Children’s Health delivers something that can’t be found anywhere else in Indiana. We have the only pediatric research hospital in the state and are ranked among the top hospitals in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report.
When you choose Riley Children’s Health, your child has access to the best and brightest physicians, healthcare providers, and researchers. We attract and collaborate with the world’s leading scientists to solve the toughest problems in pediatric health for children around the state, nation, and across the globe.
Through enduring collaborations with the Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University School of Nursing and Indiana University School of Health and Human Sciences, Riley Children’s Health is one of the top 10 sites in the United States for pediatric health research, drawing millions of dollars in biomedical research investments each year. Riley also advances healthcare for children with a significant ongoing commitment to recruiting and training the next generation of pediatric physicians, scientists and healthcare providers.
In the state of Indiana, there is no other healthcare system more invested in children’s health than Riley Children’s Health. Riley’s physicians and healthcare providers take the keenest interest in the total health and well-being of every child because we are steeped in innovation and research every day.
Everyone knows that healthcare improves through education and research. In both realms, Riley Children’s Health plays a leading role in making sure children’s health remains a top priority. Riley’s devotion to excellence means they ask and often answer the questions that improve the quality of life for children near and far in all kinds of health circumstances. At Riley Children’s Health, they expand the boundaries of today’s knowledge through education, innovation, and a commitment to excellence for children everywhere.
