St. Raymond’s Student to be Appointed Grand Marshal of Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital Event on Monday, March 30th at the School

Maria Fareri Children's Hospital Gabriel Sanchez Backgrounder

After Overcoming a Rare Disorder, Boy, 13, to be Appointed Grand Marshal of Children’s Hospital Fundraiser during School Ceremony

More than 600 Fellow Students Expected to Attend Event on March 30th
Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center will officially appoint Gabriel Sanchez, 13, of the Bronx as the Grand Marshal of the 11th Annual Go the Distance Walk and Family Fun Day during a special ceremony at St. Raymond Elementary School, Monday, March 30th at 1 p.m. Gabriel, who was in and out of hospitals his entire life until he was correctly diagnosed with and treated for a rare genetic disorder called chronic granulomatous disease at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, will receive his specially-tailored Grand Marshal sash from hospital representatives in front of school administrators, teachers and more than 600 fellow St. Raymond students.

Highlights:
• Gabriel Sanchez 13, of the Bronx, has been named Grand Marshal of the 11th Annual Go the Distance Walk and Family Fun Day for Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center. Gabriel was challenged with chronic granulomatous disease, a rare, unidentified condition for most of his life until he was properly diagnosed and treated at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital.
• Gabriel’s official, Grand Marshal appointment ceremony will occur Monday, March 30, at 1 p.m. in front of teachers, administrators and more than 650 fellow students at St. Raymond’s Elementary School in the Bronx.
• The Go the Distance Walk and Family Fun Day (#GoTheDistance) includes a casual one-mile walk and a host of family activities. Thousands of supporters from across the region regularly participate. This year’s event will occur Sunday, May 3.
Valhalla, New York, March 25, 2015 – Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center has named Gabriel Sanchez, 13, of the Bronx as the Grand Marshal of the 11th Annual Go the Distance Walk and Family Fun Day. The event, which includes a casual, one-mile walk and a host of family activities, is the biggest fundraiser for Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, which cares for the region’s most seriously ill and injured children. This year’s Go the Distance Walk & Family Fun Day will occur Sunday, May 3.
The Go the Distance Walk and Family Fun Day draws former patients, their families, Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital staff and supportive community members from around the region. As the event’s Grand Marshal, Gabriel will lead thousands of participants around the Westchester Medical Center campus during the event’s signature procession.

The largest fundraising event for Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital will occur May 3

Gabriel’s Goal – A Happy, Healthy Life
Gabriel was plagued by a variety of illnesses his entire life, which included multiple hospital stays and surgeries. His life changed for the better when a pediatric immunologist at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital correctly diagnosed Gabriel with chronic granulomatous disease, a rare genetic disorder that was making it difficult for Gabriel to fight even the simplest of infections. After undergoing a stem-cell transplant at the hospital, Gabriel has a new immune system and a new lease on life that he is living to the fullest today.
Gabriel’s official, Grand Marshal appointment ceremony will occur Monday, March 30 at 1 p.m. at St. Raymond’s Elementary School in the Bronx. Then, Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital’s Physician-in-Chief, Michael Gewitz, M.D., will present Gabriel with a specially-tailored Grand Marshal sash. The ceremony will occur in front of school administrators, Gabriel’s teachers, his family and more than 650 of his fellow students.

To learn more about the Go the Distance Walk and Family Fun Day, including how participants can support advanced children’s healthcare in the region, interested parties are encouraged to visit www.westchestermedicalcenter.com/walk. Participants and others can stay up-to-date on event news and share their event-day experiences via social media by using the tag #GoTheDistance.

About Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center
Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center is the children’s hospital for New York’s Hudson Valley region and Fairfield County, Connecticut. Families from the region and beyond come to the hospital for advanced pediatric care due to the reputation of its advanced pediatric services and family-friendly environment. Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital is home to the region’s only pediatric intensive care unit and its regional neonatal intensive care unit as well as its only pediatric transplant program, pediatric burn care and trauma services and cardiac catheterization program.

About St. Raymond’s Elementary School
St. Raymond Elementary School offers full-day academic programs for Pre-K3 through Grade 8, advanced level math and science, sports, a fitness center and a broad array of extracurricular activities. With more than 900 students, St. Raymond’s is the largest elementary school in the Archdiocese of New York.

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