The La Playa Unit of Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, which represents Point Loma, recently announced it is holding the 20th annual Celebration of Champions at the Embarcadero Marina Park North on Saturday, May 16. The Celebration of Champions celebrates the heroic efforts of children with cancer, their families and health care professionals; and raises much needed funds for the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.
“We are excited to celebrate our 20th Celebration of Champions and to announce that we already have one presenting sponsor for this year at the $100,000 level,” said Lisa Hamlin Vieira, 2015 sponsorship chair. “To date, we have proudly raised $6.5 million dollars since our inception 20 years ago.”
Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego and its programs provide not only medical but social, psychological and emotional support to children and their families throughout the course of illness, treatment and recovery. More than 300 young champions who are currently fighting cancer or have survived cancer will be participating in this year’s event. Each champion will run, walk or be carried one-eighth of a mile holding the “torch of life” while being accompanied by a family member, sponsor and celebrity. The champion will then pass the torch to another child for his/her symbolic run.
“The event is staffed almost exclusively with volunteers. Additionally, our fund raising efficiency is 100 percent meaning that every dollar contributed goes to support the children at the Peckham Center or to provide this event for them. We keep our expenses to the barest minimum so that we can pass along every dollar possible to our champions,” said Vieira.
Anyone can be a sponsor. Six different sponsorship levels are available ranging from $1,500 to a 20th Celebration $100,000 level. For more information, visit www.celebrationofchampions.com/. Every year, the Celebration of Champions raises nearly $400,000. Become a sponsor today and help make the difference in the lives of children battling cancer.
The Celebration of Champions was founded by the La Playa Unit of Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary; the group consists of over 200 women dedicated to volunteering their time and resources to help raise funds for Rady Children’s. The Celebration of Champions includes a relay for life, balloon release memoriam and other activities designed to pay homage to the heroic efforts of the participating child champions and their families. The Celebration of Champions is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charity, EIN 33-0170626.