See what Patient First is doing in the community.
A beautiful, crisp, clear Sunday morning in downtown Baltimore provided the perfect backdrop for an event steeped in love, caring and support in the form of the Ronald McDonald House Red Shoe Shuffle.
While this was the 13th year that this 5k run/walk/stroll has been held at the site of the Ronald McDonald House (just three miles from our Bayview center), this was the first year that Patient First has been a part of it. Nevertheless, we could not have been made to feel more welcome, with friendly greetings and check-ins by the RMH staff, and a prime location for our table and tent in the middle of the event's Celebration Village.
With its mission of providing housing-- sometimes for months at a time-- for out of town families while their children undergo life-saving treatments at area hospitals, this nationwide event could not be a more worthwhile cause for us to champion, and we received countless thanks from not just the organizers, but the families and supporters of the recipients of this invaluable service.
This year marked the first time in its history that the event sold out, with 3,000 people participating in the Shuffle itself, not to mention the people that came out to cheer on and support the participants. So many of those who stopped by our table had been patients of ours, and self-proclaimed frequent fliers from as near as Bayview and Glen Burnie, to as far as Waldorf and Downington, PA. We had so many wonderful conversations with people who were incredibly appreciative of our services, the clean condition of our centers, and the professionalism of our staff.
With this year's record setting turnout, the money raised to support this charity hit an all-time high as well-- with over half a million dollars collected! Our staff felt honored to be a part of this celebratory day, and we certainly look forward to keeping this event on our schedule for years to come!