An 'Angel' Helps Raise Money & Lift Spirits for Children with Cancer at Miller Children’s

LONG BEACH, Calif., Dec. 13, 2011 – Wally Joyner, former Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim first baseman, has found another passion besides baseball – pediatric cancer. Joyner has been a partner of Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach for quite a few years, but he’s really swung for the fences since he heard that kids with cancer and serious blood disorders desperately needed a new unit at Miller Children’s. Joyner has been instrumental in the “giveHope” campaign which will help build a new state-of-the-art pediatric cancer unit for the Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center (JJCCC) at Miller Children’s. The funds also will support the expansion of their programs, services and research initiatives.

Joyner often visits JJCCC patients and their families. On his most recent visit, he handed out signed photos, hats and jerseys to patients with cancer and serious blood disorders. The patients’ faces lit up with excitement to meet a professional baseball player. During his visit, Joyner played with the children and even helped them decorate some coloring pages. Lifting patients’ spirits during hospitalization is often associated with better recovery times and shorter stays.

Not only does Joyner visit the patients, he hosts a golf tournament each year benefitting JJCCC. The 2011 Wally Joyner & Friends Golf Classic was held at Mesa Verde Country Club in Costa Mesa. Joyner invited 164 of his friends, former teammates and other baseball players to participate. The golf tournament was followed by an auction where guests bid on items including vacation packages, tickets to sports games and a chance to receive batting lessons from Joyner. More than $120,000 was raised to go towards the “giveHope” campaign.

“Pediatric cancer holds a very special place in my heart and the care team at the Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center do an excellent job caring for these kids,” says Joyner. “It touches my heart to be able to help the patients and their families that are going through a very challenging time in their lives. I’m happy to have the opportunity to not only raise money for Miller Children’s, but to really get to know them.”

More than 800 children are treated each year at the Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center for various types of childhood cancer and serious blood disorders. The new pediatric hematology/oncology unit is designed to provide optimal, family centered care with newly built private rooms, which not only gives patients and families more privacy, but also gives families the chance to work closely with the care team. In addition, there will be a large playroom, and a state-of-the-art hepa-filtration system, creating 100 percent clean air, important for cancer patients who are immunocompromised and are more vulnerable to infections. Joyner’s passion for this new unit has inspired him to create two new baseball-themed treatment rooms. One room will be designed around the “American League” and the other will be focused on the “National League,” representing the leagues from Joyner’s baseball career.

About Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach

Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach provides specialized pediatric care for children and young adults, with conditions ranging from common to complex - as well as maternity care for expectant mothers - all under one roof. Only five percent of all hospitals are children’s hospitals, making them unique not only to children’s health care needs in the community, but across the region. Miller Children’s is one of only eight free-standing children’s hospitals in California - treating more than 8,000 children each year - and has become a regional pediatric destination for more than 84,000 children, who need specialized care in the outpatient specialty and satellite centers. Miller Children’s is currently undertaking a major expansion project to expand the pediatric cancer center, neonatal intensive care unit and the MemorialCare Center for Women. Visit MillerChildrens.org, like us on Facebook.com/MillerChildrensHospital and follow us at tweets@millerchildrens.