| SPRINGFIELD – Despite the warm sunny weather outside, the phones still rang during the 19th annual Children’s Miracle Network Telethon on June 4-5.Hundreds of Western New England residents and corporations responded generously to the heartwarming stories about ‘miracle’ children at Baystate Children’s Hospital and pledged $604,260 to the local children’s hospital.
When the final figure flashed on the tote board Sunday afternoon, June 5, the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon at Baystate Children’s Hospital had raised, for the 10th consecutive year, more than a half million dollars, and for the third consecutive year more than $600,000, in support of local health care programs for children. The 19th annual CMN broadcast was presented live over WWLP-TV22 from the hospital’s Chestnut Conference Center.
Ely Dunn, manager, Children’s Miracle Network at Baystate Health System, noted that the annual telethon not only raises money for children’s services, but allows the hospital to showcase its many ‘miracle’ children, the health care staff who care for them, and the most-up-to-date technology available in their diagnosis and treatment. She said the Children’s Miracle Network is unique in that all of the money raised in Western Mass. goes directly to Baystate Children’s Hospital in Springfield and to its sister hospitals, Mary Lane Hospital in Ware and Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, to support children’s health programs and services.
Since its first broadcast in 1987, the Children’s Miracle Network has raised more than $9 million, which has been used to fund nearly 590 projects, including construction and renovation, the purchase of new equipment and support for new and ongoing programs at Baystate Children’s Hospital in Springfield, Mary Lane Hospital in Ware and Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, and the Baystate Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice.
State Sen. Stephen Buoniconti, who represents the Hampden district, served as chairman of the 2005 Children’s Miracle Network Telethon, which was hosted by WWLP-TV22 news anchor Lynn Barry and WWLP-TV22 sports director Rich Tettemer. They were joined this year for the first time by Paul Cannon and Rob Anthony from 94.7 WMAS FM.
During the annual broadcast, a swimming pool donated by Teddy Bear Pools and Spas was auctioned off for a bid of $3,000 from Greta Redzko of Westfield.
Baystate Children’s Hospital is one of 170 hospitals in the United States and Canada participating in the Children’s Miracle Network. Baystate is the largest provider of children’s services in Western Mass. and includes the region’s only newborn and pediatric and intensive care units. |
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