FUN RUN ALLOWS KIDS TO HELP KIDS

Hospitalized children sometimes have needs not covered by insurance and beyond their families' means.

To help cover the cost of those needs, St. Francis Medical Center has established a fund dedicated to children and is letting children raise money for it.

The St. Francis Foundation's Children Helping Children Fund will help meet needs such as adaptive equipment or supplies for pediatric patients, said Bill Kiel, executive director of the St. Francis Foundation.

The first fund-raiser will be a children's fun run on Oct. 16. Registration deadline is Oct. 1.

"A child with a devastating injury may have needs beyond the financial capabilities of the family," said Amy Bretlinger, manager of the pediatric unit at St. Francis.

The child may need a special piece of equipment not covered by the family's insurance or Medicare. The need may be an ambulance ride to rehab or medicine the family can't afford, Bretlinger said.

It may be something as simple as clothing, Kiel said. Children admitted to the emergency room sometimes may have their clothes cut off to speed treatment. In the past, if the family couldn't afford new clothing those on the hospital staff might pitch in to buy the child an outfit to wear home.

"But the number of children and the growing number of needs makes this prohibitive," Kiel said. "So we decided to do something to raise money so it would be available when needs arise."

"We realized we needed a fund dedicated to kids with special needs," said Bretlinger, whose staff in the pediatrics unit sees many of these children.

Kiel estimates the fun run will raise $5,000 to $6,000, with some of that coming from entry fees and a larger amount from corporate sponsorships.

"This will give us a good starting point," Kiel said.

Hospital staff members will make recommendations for using the fund as they see needs arise, Kiel said.

The need might be a wheelchair, an infant car seat, clothing, braces, rehabilitation, medication.

"We are keeping things flexible so we can see how to best use these funds," Kiel said.

IF YOU GO

The children's fun run fund-raiser for Children Helping Children Fund will be Oct. 16 at St. Francis Medical Center. Registration fee is $8, due by Oct. 1.

The 1-mile non-competitive run is for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. The schedule on Oct. 16 will be registration from noon to 1 p.m., entertainment from 12:30 to 1:30 and start time at 1:30.

Participants receive a T-shirt, medal and treat bag.