Hyundai’s Hope On Wheels Gives $100K donation To WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s
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MORGANTOWN - Young patients put colorful hand prints on a white Hyundai palisade Thursday morning in front of WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s.
And Hyundai’s Hope on Wheel program presented Children’s Blood Disorders & Cancer Center a grant of $100,000 to support the hospital’s mission.
This was the hospital’s third annual Hope on Wheels donation celebration, recognizing Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Cancer survivor Cooper Sampson, 13, made it clear why the cause is so important.
"I am proud to say I am cancer free July 1," he said. Leg pain led to discovery of a tumor in his leg last October and a diagnosis of osteosarcoma - bone cancer. At Children’s, he underwent chemotherapy plus treatment with a new drug undergoing clinical trial.
He rang the bell to mark completion of his treatment on June 16, he said, and got a clear PET scan on July 1. The journey took 240-plus days in the hospital across 22 admissions, with four surgeries and six cycles of treatment.
"The staff at Children’s is nothing short of amazing," he said. "Having a topnotch pediatric hospital in my backyard is a miracle, with how many visits we had to make."
Amy Bush, Children’s chief administrative officer, said, "We love this day not only because of the extraordinary generosity of Hyundai and our local partners who support our kids, but also because the mission is focused on hope.
"And we say every day ... that hope lives here, and it does. Our kids give us hope for a healthier future," she said. "The kids are actually our heroes. The kids actually inspire us."
Phan Tran, Hyundai regional merchandising manager, has been on scene for each of the three $100,000 grant presentations and explained why they do it.
"It’s really for you all," he said. "It’s for the kids, it’s for their families that are fighting."
Hope on Wheels began in 1998, he said - an effort pushed for and supported by the dealers, who donate a portion of every car sale to the program. "It’s part of the community. That’s why they do this."
Hyundai is giving $26 million to hospitals across the country this year, bringing the grand total for pediatric cancer research to $303 million since 1998.
While Hyundai fills a funding gap, he said, "Really at the end of the day, the heroes are all of you. You are the ones that are in the fight, you are the ones that are being resilient, you are the ones that are being strong, you are the ones that are providing compassion."
Hope on Wheels has also launched a Warrior campaign, he said. It was inspired by a young girl in California who told a dealer that the hospital gowns were uncomfortable and reminded her she should be sad.
That led to the creation of new gowns with Valkyrie designs for girls and gladiators for boys. Hope on Wheels gave 150 gowns to Children’s.
Gary Flannery, executive manager of Washington (Pa.) Auto Mall, said the Hyundai dealers in this area heard about Hope on Wheels in 2004 and wanted to join. "This is absolutely part of their culture. This is embedded in everything that they do every day."
But more important are the hospital staffs, the parents and the kids who are undergoing treatment. "So often you see big smiles on their face. It is absolutely incredible."
And Dr. Julia Meade, new executive director of Children’s Blood Disorders & Cancer Center, acknowledged patients, families and staff. "It’s just an incredible honor to lead this group of talented individuals who are so talented and so dedicated to the care of our children with cancer here."