Virtual Wolfson Children’s Challenge raises $96,000
Almost 400 children and families from across 15 states participated in the 12th annual Wolfson Children’s Challenge: Virtual Edition. The participants logged 1,532.83 kilometers of physical activity on the Wolfson55 app in January. Together, participants and supporters raised more than $96,000 to help fund the purchase of life-saving trauma equipment and technology for our most critical patients at Wolfson Children’s.
The first-ever virtual format allowed the iconic Jacksonville event to expand beyond Northeast Florida borders and encourage participants in communities across the country to recruit their families and friends to get active and fundraise.
As of Jan. 29, the five top fundraising teams included: CSX Retirees, $16,578; Addison’s All-stars, $2,620; Team Char Char, $2,374; Ashlyn’s Armada, $2,150; and Team Sunshine Stevie Mae, $1,829.
Children and families of all ages, fitness levels and abilities participated in the month-long challenge via the Wolfson55 mobile app. The innovative event experience allowed users access to virtual challenges, features to monitor their physical activity, tools to track individual and team fundraising progress, and a virtual closing ceremony celebration. While the races were not timed this year, fitness-minded participants had the opportunity to log their miles and minutes for the various activity challenges.
The event’s inclusive and accessible activity challenges included a 20K individual walk/run and a 200K team walk/run. Participants also had the unique opportunity to put their own creative mark on fundraising with weekly social and compassion challenges such as notes of encouragement, game nights, animal-inspired workouts and more.
The Wolfson Children’s Challenge honors 55 children each year, representing the wide range of services Wolfson Children’s Hospital offers to children of North Florida, South Georgia and beyond. Each of the honorees and their families were recognized leading up to and throughout the event, as well as during the virtual closing ceremony on Jan. 30.
“Each year, the Wolfson Children’s Challenge brings together hundreds of supporters to help turn miles into miracles for our children who need it most,” said Michael D. Aubin, FACHE, president of Wolfson Children’s Hospital and a San Marco resident. “Despite being virtual to keep everyone safe, this year’s challenge was just as powerful, even though individuals and families supported us from a distance. We are grateful for the generosity of our region and everyone who participated, as it ensures we can continue providing the best care for our children for years to come.”
To date, the Wolfson Children’s Challenge has raised more than $4 million for the Wolfson Children’s Challenge Endowment, helping fund the purchase of life-saving equipment and technology. This year, the endowment will focus on the development of an MIBG therapy room on the oncology floor of Wolfson Children’s Hospital. As the first of its kind in Florida, the new room will give Wolfson Children’s the ability to offer the newest upfront treatment for children with high-risk neuroblastoma, the most common solid tumor of childhood cancer.
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