Sunrise Fund Walk
ELEMENTARY STUDENTS RAISE $14,000 AT SUNRISE WALK EVENT HELPS KIDS TREATED FOR CANCER AT SBUMC
STONY BROOK, N.Y., June 19, 2008 – Plenty of music, games, and perfect June weather accompanied hundreds of students from the W.S. Mount Elementary School in Stony Brook during the annual walk-a-thon to benefit the Sunrise Fund at Stony 
Brook University Medical Center. The students and their families teamed up with faculty and staff from SBUMC on June 1 to complete the 1.5 mile walk near the school grounds. The event raised more than $14,000 and was part of a “Children Helping Children” Campaign for the Sunrise Fund (www.sunrisefund.org), which supports the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at SBUMC.
“This year’s walk was very successful, and the children and others who participated have made a great contribution to support Sunrise Fund programs,” said Debra Giugliano, RN, MS, of the Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at SBUMC. She added that the proceeds would specifically fund the Dan Brooks Memorial Educational Award, given each year to students treated for cancer at SBUMC to help fund their higher education costs, and Play Fit-Stay Fit, a comprehensive wellness program for childhood cancer patients and their families.
Also joining W.S. Mount Elementary School children during the walk were students from several schools in the Smithtown School District, including St. James Elementary, Dogwood Elementary, and Great Hollow Middle School. To supplement the proceeds, students and faculty from St. James Elementary also hosted fundraisers for the Sunrise Fund at the Ben & Jerry’s and Wendy’s Restaurant in Smithtown.
The Sunrise Fund, along with various groups organized through Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, also develop programs and events for patients and families throughout the year. On July 12, SBUMC’s Our Little Heroes parent support network, supported by the Sunrise Fund and A Mother’s Kiss, will hold a summer picnic at Fireman’s Park in Ridge from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
For more information about the summer picnic and other Sunrise Fund programs and events, please call (631) 444-2899.
