The 2009 Children’s Miracle Network Celebration is now history, but the gifts given and the memories made will last forever. The final total from the 2008 Children’s Miracle Network campaign was $636,814.
During the Celebration weekend, the Mother Frances Streitel Conference Center was transformed into a live television broadcast studio. The theme this year was "Yesterday…Today...Forever". Hosts were Melissa Langbehn, Erik Mrotek, and Pam Warnke, from WAOW TV 9, along with Mark Skibba, from WYTE Radio.
As always, the highlight of the weekend’s event was the miracle children who shared their stories. The 2009 miracle children included Jackie Ripke of Wisconsin Rapids, who battled leukemia; Isaac Lepinski of Amherst, who experienced a life-altering trauma to his leg following a go-cart crash; Jasmine Lobay of Marshfield, who fought for survival at birth; Miranda Rohde of Rhinelander, who has kidney disease; and Nicholas Plank of Eagle River, who survived his battle with the deadly disease blastomycosis. Although these five children are from areas throughout north central Wisconsin, range from 3 -18 years of age, and have different stories to share – they have one thing in common…they are all miracles!
The funds raised in 2008 have already been put to work through programs that benefit children. There were requests for more than $1 million to fund projects to benefit children. Many worthy projects were denied because the funds were not available. Every dollar donated is greatly appreciated, and every penny of that will be used to help even more children in our area.