The Osmonds Are Back For Charity

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:34:00 -0000

Words can not express the gratitude that Marie Osmond has for the staff at the Children’s Hospital for Wales after they saved her five-year-old son Stephen’s life during a severe asthma attack.

“I was in my bus touring, and he stopped breathing and turned blue and his machine didn’t work,” said Marie. “I remember I said a prayer, and we drove probably 100mph down the road in a bus, and there was a children’s hospital. They rushed him in there and they saved his life.”

She and her brothers plan to show their appreciation with the support of the Noah’s Ark Appeal to purchase new state-of-the-art equipment for the hospital to help make it one of the best hospitals in the world. Marie Osmond is co-founder, along with John Schneider, of the Children’s Miracle Network, a project of The Osmond Foundation. The initiative has raised over $3.4 billion since 1983 for children’s hospitals throughout the U.S. and Canada.

The Children’s Hospital for Wales joins Bristol and Dublin hospitals in becoming a partner. In 2009 they will have the opportunity to nominate a “champion child” to go to Disney World. Each year one child and their family is chosen from each of the children’s hospitals in the Children’s Miracle Network to represent the hospital at Disney World.

Marie Osmond also has asthma, which may have caused her to faint during the reality show “Dancing With the Stars”. She said, “Right at the beginning I started getting light-headed. And the only thing I could think of [is] I have allergies, there’s almost half a million people being evacuated, the air quality is terrible – and I just couldn’t get my breath.”

Over 6.8 million children under age 18 have asthma. Asthma is the leading cause of school absences and the third leading cause of hospitalizations for children. The cost of treating these children is over $3.2 billion a year. American Lung Association Asthma Clinical Research Centers are involved with working on asthma prevention and treatments. Many communities have developed asthma-friendly schools and emergency plans to educate school staff and students with helping someone during a severe asthma attack.

If you would like to make a difference in a child’s life, contact www.noahs-ark-appeal.org. For more information about asthma, contact a Local Lung Association in your area at 1-800-LUNGUSA.

Inaugural Linda's Legacy Tennis Tournament of Love A Huge Success for American Lung Association

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 11:03:04 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

On September 27-30th, the inaugural Linda’s Legacy Women’s Doubles Tennis Tournament in Ponte Vedra Beach Florida was held, where former world number 1 tennis player and International Hall of Fame member, Tracy Austin took part in this event which raised over $110,00 to benefit the American Lung Association of Florida.

‘Linda’s Legacy: A Tournament of Love’ is named after Linda Paul-Skeeles, who died in 2005 from lung cancer. It aims to raise awareness about lung cancer among women, highlighting its devastating and often fatal effects: more women die from lung cancer than from breast, ovarian and cervical cancers combined. “My grandfather actually died of lung cancer. My mother’s father, and it was actually before I was born, so I never even knew him,” said Austin, “but she always told us growing up how painful it was to see him be in so much pain, and that’s what Linda died of.”

Honoring Linda’s memory, while reminding women and their loved ones that smoking kills, participants included: Tracy Austin, MaliVai Washington (Wimbledon singles finalist and member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic team), Bernie Kopell (The Love Boat doctor who participates in celebrity tennis tournaments), and Brian Gottfried, (winner of the U.S. Open senior doubles and Wimbledon senior doubles), among others.

The event kicked off Friday evening with hors d’oeuvres, entertainment, a silent auction, and team pairings. The silent auction itself raised over $13,000, and included 39 items up for bids. Several memorable items that were auctioned off include: A US Open Super Saturday Package for Two, which was donated by the USTA Florida and includes 2 tickets for the men’s semi-finals, 2 tickets for the ladies finals, men’s semi-finals, ladies finals and a Loge Box End Court; also, a Sony Ericsson 2008 package, donated by Grand Slam Tennis, which includes 2 nights accommodations at the Grand Bay Hotel and courtside box seats.

“It is shocking to most to hear that more women die each year from lung cancer than from breast, cervical and ovarian cancers combined. We are working to educate women not to smoke, and to avoid exposure to second-hand smoke. Through the ‘Linda’s Legacy: A Tournament of Love’ tennis tournament we are one step closer to accomplishing this mission.” American Lung Association of Florida

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The Osmonds Are Back For Charity

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Inaugural Linda's Legacy Tennis Tournament of Love A Huge Success for American Lung Association

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