12
QUEENS WEEKLY, MAY 26, 2019
Local hospital walks for a cause in Bayside
Crocheron Park walkathon fundraiser provides more than $100K for St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
St. Mary’s Healthcare
System for Children
raised more than $110,000
at its fourteenth annual
Big Hearts Walk for St.
Mary’s Kids fundraiser on
May 19 at Crocheron Park
in Bayside to support the
critically ill and injured
kids at the hospital.
More than 300
participants — including
patients who are learning
to walk through the
Locomotor Therapy
Program at St. Mary’s —
gathered at Crocheron
Park to participate in
the Big Hearts Walk for
St. Mary’s Kids.
“There’s nothing
better than spending
the morning outdoors
with our community,
celebrating our children
and ensuring we can
continue providing them
with the best possible
care,” said Dr. Edwin
Simpser, president
and CEO of St. Mary’s
Healthcare System for
Children. “The funds
raised at today’s event will
ensure we can continue
our efforts to provide
high-quality care to New
York’s sickest kids. We’re
so grateful to the entire
St. Mary’s community for
their support of the Big
Hearts Walk.”
For the first time,
patients in St. Mary’s
Hospital’s innovative
Locomotor Therapy
program led the Big Hearts
Walk. The children, who
had previously been
paralyzed due to illness
or injury, used the skills
they’ve developed in
a therapeutic setting
to take some of their
first steps and inspire
the participants.
The Big Hearts
Walk included multiple
walking routes, in
addition to a “virtual
walk” option for those
unable to participate in
person. Entrants to the
walk were greeted by an
NYPD steel drum band,
and members of the
NYPD Mounted Unit led
the participants through
the route.
Following the walk,
volunteers facilitated a
Family Fun Day featuring
face painting, a photo
booth, cotton candy,
costumed superheroes
and more activities for
children and adults.
The top team
fundraisers this year
were “Melissa Rob
& Friends,” “Luke’s
Warriors,” “Maureen
Folan Real Estate Group,”
“Team Pastoressa,” and
“CEA Fitness.”
Top individual
fundraisers this year
were Robert Heicklen,
Catherine Pastoressa,
Patricia Magas,
Colette Saccomanno,
and M. Riley.
Pastoressa, whose
team surpassed their goal
of $3,500 raising a total
of $5,090, was honored at
the Big Hearts Walk for
St. Mary’s Kids. She was
named community leader
for the hospital last year,
and has spent a lot of
time both volunteering at
the hospital and working
with the foundation,
Pastoressa said on her
fundraising page.
More than 300 participants gathered at Crocheron Park in Bayside to participate in the Big
Hearts Walk for St. Mary’s Kids.
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S f ti t
RELIEVES BACK PAIN
Local doctor treats herniated and bulging discs, sciatica, and serious lower back pain
/Brooklynspinecenter.com
