runDisney Celebrated Charity Spotlight | Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is the celebrated charity of the 2021 Virtual Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend.

Bella’s Story with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals

Bella was born many weeks before her due date, which led to her spending the first 18 months of her life in the neonatal intensive care unit at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital®. Bella became one of the youngest patients ever to undergo a heart-lung transplant, which ultimately saved her life. As she recovered from the procedure, her family was able to sleep by her side in the hospital on a pullout couch funded by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Those same funds also provided the most advanced medical technology and treatment available and even ensured new tools were made available to visualize airways in kids like Bella.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals raises funds for 170 children’s hospitals that support the health of 10 million kids like Bella each year across the U.S. and Canada. Dollars raised go to local hospitals to fund critical life-saving treatments and healthcare services, just like what Bella received. Additionally, donations support innovative research, vital pediatric medical equipment, child life services that put kids’ and families’ minds at ease during difficult hospital stays and financial assistance for families who could not otherwise afford these health services.

*Pictured: PREVIOUSLY CAPTURED IMAGE - Minnie Mouse runs with Bella, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals patient, as she crosses the finish line in the 2019 runDisney Kid’s Race.

Today, Bella is 9 years old and full of energy. While she still has to go to the doctor’s office for check-ups, she spends her free time riding her scooter and playing outside with her sisters. She will even participate in her second runDisney event, running at home in the 2021 Virtual Disney Princess Half Marathon Race weekend.

As the celebrated charity of the race weekend, participants had the option to donate to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals when they registered. In addition, nearly one hundred “Miracle Makers” raised funds for CMN Hospitals to earn their race entries as charity runners. Because of support from CMN Hospitals and its donors, local hospitals can fund critical life-saving treatments and healthcare services, along with innovative research, vital pediatric medical equipment, and financial assistance. In other words, kids like Bella are able to participate in events like the Kids Race thanks to care they were given at their local children’s hospital.

When the health of all children is improved, allowing them the opportunity to reach their full potential, communities are also positively impacted for years to come.

On behalf of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, thank you for changing kids’ health and changing the future.