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<\/a><\/a>\nSupporters including patients and their families, community members and Northwell employees joined walks on Sunday, May 17 in New York at Jones Beach and in Port Jefferson, Riverhead, Westchester and Staten Island \u2014 and for the first time \u2014 in Norwalk, Connecticut, to welcome the newest members of the Northwell community after the health system\u2019s merger with Nuvance Health<\/a> last year. Each walk raises funds for initiatives including women\u2019s health, cancer care and pediatric health programs at Northwell hospitals in their respective communities.<\/p> \n\u201cIt's inspiring to see the outpouring of support across six locations of the Northwell Walk to Raise Health, with thousands of patients, families, community members and team members driven by our mission to improve health for all,\u201d said Amelia Alverson, executive vice president and chief development officer for Northwell Health. \u201cThey fuel our ability to expand access and create new programs, treatments and cures, close to home.\u201d<\/p> \nAt Jones Beach, supporters enjoyed appearances by former New York Rangers players Tom Laidlaw and St\u00e9phane Matteau, Mr. & Mrs. Met and the New York Islanders\u2019 Sparky the Dragon before joining the walk, which raised funds for women\u2019s and children\u2019s health at the Katz Institute for Women\u2019s Health<\/a> and Cohen Children\u2019s Medical Center<\/a>.<\/p> \nAndrew and Dia Plant, along with their children, joined the Jones Beach Walk in gratitude for the lifesaving care their son, RJ, received at Cohen Children\u2019s Medical Center. RJ was born with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a rare genetic condition that prevents his body from producing cortisol, the hormone responsible for regulating stress response, blood pressure and other essential functions. In January 2022, after developing a stomach virus, 8-year-old RJ rapidly declined and he was rushed by ambulance to a hospital, where his condition continued to worsen.<\/p> \nKnowing her son needed specialized pediatric care, Dia advocated for an emergency transfer to Cohen Children\u2019s Medical Center. A Cohen Children\u2019s transfer nurse, Vickie Tsaklanos, stabilized RJ and accompanied him in the ambulance to the hospital, where a full pediatric emergency and critical care team was waiting to receive him. His parents were told the first 12 to 24 hours would be critical and were forced to confront the possibility he might not recover. After a stay that included four days in the intensive care unit, RJ made a full recovery and is now a healthy, active 12-year-old.<\/p> \n\u201cCohen Children\u2019s saved RJ\u2019s life,\u201d said Dia Plant. \u201cDuring a very scary and uncertain time for my family, the doctors, nurses and other hospital staff treated us with kindness, compassion and transparency. Our experience taught us a very important lesson, that where you go for medical care matters. Cohen Children\u2019s is now the only place for our children\u2019s care.\u201d<\/p> \nAcross New York and Connecticut, funds raised at the other five walks will enhance services at hospitals in their local communities. The Port Jefferson Walk supports the Fortunato Breast Cancer Center at Mather Hospital<\/a>, and the East End\/Riverhead Walk will expand Peconic Bay Medical Center\u2019s<\/a> cancer services and breast health programs. Funds raised at the Westchester Walk support Northern Westchester Hospital<\/a>\u2019s team member wellness program as well as Phelps Hospital\u2019s<\/a> Community Paramedicine Program and Caregivers Center. The Staten Island Walk supports advanced care at Staten Island University Hospital\u2019s<\/a> Florina Cancer Center and Brian Halpin Pediatric Cancer Center. The Norwalk Walk will expand personalized cancer care programs at Norwalk Hospital\u2019s<\/a> Whittingham Cancer Center.<\/p> \nFundraising continues through June 5 at northwellwalk.com<\/a>.<\/p> \nThe Walk began 16 years ago as the \u201cEvery Woman Matters Walk,\u201d inspired by the vision of philanthropists Iris and Saul Katz, whose commitment to high-quality health care continues to be felt throughout Northwell. Since its inception, the Northwell Walk to Raise Health has raised more than $11 million.<\/p> \nAbout Northwell Health\n