It’s time to meet our third group of 2022 Marathon Mile Champions!
Every year, 24 patients treated at Nationwide Children’s Hospital are selected to line each mile of the race, share their story and inspire others. Each Marathon Mile Champion picks a theme for their mile and is looking forward to celebrating with you on race day. We know that reading their stories will give you that extra motivation you need to finish your training strong.
Here are the Marathon Mile Champions for miles 11-15:
The Angel Mile, mile 11, serves as a remembrance and celebration of the angels of Nationwide Children’s Hospital who have already finished their race. This year, songs produced by the hospital’s music therapists will be played throughout the mile. The music therapy program produces songs that incorporate a child’s heartbeat; the song is then given to the family after the child’s passing so they can continue to hear their heartbeat as time passes on.
Evelyn is Mile Marker #12!
Age on Race Day: 8
Diagnosis: Sotos Syndrome, Congenital Heart Disease, Chronic Kidney Disease
Mile Marker Theme: Tacos
Within 24 hours of birth, a murmur was detected in Evelyn’s heart resulting in open-heart surgery and 11 weeks in the hospital. At age one, Evelyn was also diagnosed with Sotos Syndrome. Here’s a link to her full story.
Ryley is Mile Marker #13!
Age on Race Day: 16
Diagnosis: Heart Transplant
Mile Marker Theme: Comedy
Ryley was the recipient of a heart transplant after being diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, which caused his heart to triple in size. Here's a link to his full story.
Abigail is Mile Marker #14!
Age on Race Day: 6
Diagnosis: Tetralogy of Fallot, Pulmonary Stenosis
Mile Marker Theme: Princesses
Abby was prenatally diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot which results in a lack of oxygen-rich blood reaching the body. She had her first open-heart surgery at just 12 days old and spent the first three weeks of her life in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Here’s a link to her full story.
Atreyu is Mile Maker #15!
Age on Race Day: 10
Diagnosis: Autism and Pediatric Cancer
Mile Marker Theme: Pokemon
Atreyu was diagnosed at just six years old with medulloblastoma, a tumor that arises in the base of the skull. His diagnosis resulted in brain surgery, six rounds of chemotherapy and extreme physical and occupational therapy. Here's a link to his full story.
Stay tuned to learn more about the incredible Marathon Mile Champions you’ll see along the course!