ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Kids in the pediatric neurology unit at Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester received a surprise gift of free Adidas merchandise, thanks to a generous donation from a local nursing student.
Allison Hitchcock, a 21-year-old nursing student at the University of Rochester, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis as a teenager. Her advocacy work with the MS Society recently earned her a reward from the society and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, whose mother has MS.
“A lot of people with MS choose to hide it but sometimes you just can’t anymore,” says Allison Hitchcock, “she’s really made it a part of her and they’ve made it a part of their family.”
Mendoza’s story has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the National MS society, and he wanted to pay it forward so, 4 families touched by MS were selected for a shopping spree at the Adidas flagship store in NYC.
“They said, you have $10,000 to spend and I said “oh my gosh that’s too many zeros,” recalls Allison. “Me and my family were like we just can’t what are we gonna do with this?”
They decided to shop for the kids at Golisano Children’s Hospital. Allison knows firsthand the challenges these patients face. “I know what it feels like to be one of those patients,” she says. “Whatever I could do to bring them a little bit of happiness is what I wanted to do.”
Allison went room by room on Thursday with a cart full of new clothes, socks, balls, and hats, sharing the story of Fernando Mendoza’s generosity. “They just won the big national championship for college and his mom has something called MS,” she explained.
The kids, including 13-year-old Cooper Searcy, were filled with smiles and gratitude. Cooper kept some items for himself and shared with his siblings. “I feel like I would want others to know what it’s like,” Cooper said. “You paid forward and it just goes on and on.”
Allison is grateful for the awareness the donation brings to ongoing MS research and treatments. “I just have to sit down and really take it all in because this has gone beyond what I could’ve ever expected,” she said. “I’m really just passing along the gift from Adidas and from Fernando.”
For more information about the Mendoza fundraiser for the MS Society, Click here.
Pediatric neurology patients at Golisano Hospital benefit from nursing student and Heisman winner’s generosity WHEC.com.
Hence then, the article about pediatric neurology patients at golisano hospital benefit from nursing student and heisman winner s generosity was published today ( ) and is available on News10NBC ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Pediatric neurology patients at Golisano Hospital benefit from nursing student and Heisman winner’s generosity )
Also on site :