March Madness is when we normally think about little else but the NCAA Men’s Division 1 Basketball Championship. This year, it will be providing the backdrop to help families facing the financial hardship of a child’s illness. Hoops Madness is an effort inspired by one little boy’s own battle against cancer.
Meg McElwain and Frank Turner III of Charlotte established the fund in 2012 in honor of their son, Mitchell Bays Turner, who was diagnosed at three months old with a rare form of infant leukemia.
“We’ve been inspired by Mitchell’s courage, and by so many other families we’ve met at Presbyterian who are facing their child’s illness with strength and hope. This fund expresses our admiration for them, and seeks to provide tangible help. As Mitchell and other children battle as hard as they can, Hoops Madness gives us a chance to support them, enjoy college basketball and provide comfort through our time together.
“Those of us with sick children, we’re family now.”
Hoops Madness for Mitchell’s Fund will take place from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. Featuring family-friendly party centered around the NCAA basketball tournament, Hoops Madness will offer a silent auction, live raffle and basketball free throw shooting contests. (Don’t forget about the Big Dance, the games will be on the TV’s as well!)
All money raised will go to support the financial needs of pediatric patients and their families during treatment at Presbyterian Hemby Children’s Hospital.
Hoops Madness Ticket Information:
Individual tickets are $75 and include all food and drink. Other opportunities to support Mitchell’s Fund include sponsorships and donations of silent auction and raffle items. Details, and a chance to support the cause, are at www.mitchellsfund.org.
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery is located at 215 Southside Drive off Old Pineville Road.
About The Mitchell Bays Turner Pediatric Fund
The Mitchell Bays Turner Pediatric Fund supports the needs of pediatric patients and their families during treatment at Presbyterian Healthcare. Meg McElwain and Frank Turner, III, established the fund in 2012 in honor of their son, Mitchell Bays Turner, who was diagnosed at 3 months with Infant Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. The fund serves as a way to support families in need that are facing challenging pediatric diagnoses and helps address the need for education and advocacy to the community at large on what the families of pediatric patients face, and how to give back.
About Presbyterian Healthcare
Presbyterian Healthcare is affiliated with Novant Health, a not-for-profit healthcare system caring for patients in North and South Carolina and Virginia. Presbyterian is made up of physician clinics and five hospitals: Presbyterian Hospital, Presbyterian Hospital Matthews, Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville, Presbyterian Orthopaedic Hospital and Presbyterian Hemby Children’s Hospital. The hospital system is recognized as a leader in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular, cancer, orthopaedic, stroke and women’s health conditions. Presbyterian Hospitals achieved national nursing magnet status, a designation that only five percent of all hospitals nationwide have earned based on nursing care quality. Novant Health and Presbyterian have been named winners of the national Codman Award, presented by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, for excellence in improving the quality and safety of health care.