Opinion: Give-A-Thon for Phoenix Children’s hits close to home

For the next two days, KTAR News and Arizona Sports will take over a good portion of the Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s cafeteria for our annual Give-A-Thon.

We will be asking our listeners, business leaders and the entire Valley to open their wallets and hearts and give to this great organization.

For me, taking part in the Give-A-Thon is a pretty special thing. My family and I have quite a history with Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

From my niece’s seven years of countless treatments, to my daughter’s concussion treatment, to greeting a dear friend’s 3-year-old after he was flown to Phoenix Children’s Hospital suffering from rattlesnake bites he got in the desert, I know the place well.

A couple of weeks ago, I was sifting through emails from upper management to the entire staff while sitting beside my niece’s bed right here at the hospital.

I will admit, as a parent, PCH is a tough place to be. As you walk down the hallways and you make eye contact with the other parents, the other family members, you know why they’re there — because they have a sick child too.

It doesn’t matter what they look like. It doesn’t matter how old they are. It doesn’t matter where they’re from and it doesn’t matter how they’re dressed. We’re all there for the same reason: We want the best care in the world for our children.

But that common bond runs a little deeper in the confidence that we have knowing that our children are, in fact, getting the very best care available; that we as parents are doing the very best we can for our children and getting them to the best doctors in the world.

And how great is that? We have this amazing facility right in our own backyard.

For most, this is a destination. They had to fly or drive their children here from other states or other countries. We’re the lucky ones because it’s just off State Route 51 for us.

Please don’t just take my word for it. Tune in the next two days.

Listen to the stories, listen to the patients, listen to the kids, listen to the doctors and staff. Hear how business leaders and companies right here in Arizona lead the charge of giving.

This is a special time for our organization and this community and I am proud to be a part of it.

Join me in becoming a Champion of Hope for Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

There are multiple ways you can donate and help spread the message.

You can become a Champion of Hope by calling 602-933-4567 during the Give-A-Thon to make a donation or give your gift online.

Follow @GOMikeRussell