Race for a Healthier Tomorrow raises more than $57,000 for Arkansas Children’s Hospital

(LITTLE ROCK, Ark.) Oct. 9, 2024 – The Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) Auxiliary held its sixth annual Race for a Healthier Tomorrow on Saturday, Oct. 5, and added more than $57,000 towards its fundraising goal.

This year’s race also brought a new level of engagement, because it was the first themed race. More than 950 participants signed up to “Join the Force.” Several came dressed as their favorite characters from the galaxy far, far away, including Princess Leia, Darth Vader and the Mandalorian.

Event Chair Stacey Dvorak thanked the race committee, sponsors, volunteers and participants from the stage at the start of the race. Her husband and two sons accompanied her. The boys, Mason and Jack, are patients at ACH. In February, her younger son, Jack, who lives with cerebral palsy, had a life-changing spinal cord surgery at ACH.

“We were able to be within 20 minutes of our home, receiving care that would rival major cities,” Dvorak said. “Because of this amazing institution, our son has a higher quality of life. And because of everyone here, the children of Arkansas and our surrounding states will have that same opportunity. So, to every runner, walker, volunteer, sponsor and cheering section, thank you from the bottom of this mother's heart!”

ABOUT ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AUXILIARY

The Arkansas Children's Hospital Auxiliary, a member of the Arkansas Hospital Auxiliary Association, is a separate 501(c)(3) organization serving patients and families through fundraising and service projects. Founded in 1967, the Auxiliary has more than 500 members who support the hospital through many fundraising efforts including a la Carte, Miracle Ball, Race for a Healthier Tomorrow, Playaway Gift Shop, ACHiever program and Holiday Card Project.

ABOUT ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S

Arkansas Children's is the only health care system in the state solely dedicated to caring for Arkansas' 850,000 children. The private, non-profit organization includes two pediatric hospitals, a pediatric research institute and USDA nutrition center, a philanthropic foundation, a nursery alliance, statewide clinics, and many education and outreach programs — all focused on fulfilling a promise to define and deliver unprecedented child health. Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) is a 336-bed, Magnet-recognized facility in Little Rock operating the state’s only Level I pediatric trauma center; the state's only burn center; the state's only Level IV neonatal intensive care unit; the state's only pediatric intensive care unit; the state’s only pediatric surgery program with Level 1 verification from the American College of Surgeons (ACS); and the state's only nationally recognized pediatric transport program. Arkansas Children’s is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report in seven pediatric subspecialties (2024-2025): Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Neonatal Care, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Orthopedics and Pulmonology & Lung Surgery. Arkansas Children’s Northwest (ACNW), the first and only pediatric hospital in the northwest Arkansas region, is a level IV pediatric trauma center. ACNW operates a 24-bed inpatient unit; a surgical unit with five operating rooms; outpatient clinics offering over 20 subspecialties; diagnostic services; imaging capabilities; occupational therapy services; and northwest Arkansas' only pediatric emergency department, equipped with 30 exam rooms. Generous philanthropic and volunteer engagement has sustained Arkansas Children's since it began as an orphanage in 1912, and today ensures the system can deliver on its promise of unprecedented child health. To learn more, visit archildrens.org.

###