“A day without cancer” is the message of hope that Hyundai Hope On Wheels brought to our patient families during a recent visit to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. A longtime supporter of Miami Children’s, Hyundai Hope On Wheels presented the hospital with a $50,000 Impact Grant in support of this grand mission that both organizations are dedicated to. Representatives from Hyundai Hope On Wheels, Nicklaus Children’s Hospitaland Miami Children’s Health Foundation (MCH Foundation), as well as patient families, gathered in the Batchelor Research Building atrium to celebrate this great honor, followed by the organization’s signature Handprint Ceremony.

The hospital’s Senior Vice President for Ethics & Compliance, José Perdomo opened the program with facts about the Hospital and the impact that support from companies like Hyundai creates. Then Walter Dawson, Senior Manager, Regional Genesis Operations at Hyundai Motor America, shared a few words about Hyundai Hope On Wheels and the initiatives it has embarked on to help end childhood cancer, following the theme of “a day without cancer.” He presented the $50,000 grant to Kara Marante, Director of Children’s Experiences at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, who expanded on how the grant will help patients at the Hospital. Marante then introduced Andres, a patient who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2012 and treated at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. His inspiring story awed everyone in attendance and offered a special significance to the presentation of the grant. The audience also heard from Justin Dash, president of Lehman Dealership Enterprises, who spoke about local dealerships’ commitment to giving back to the Miami community.

The event wrapped up with the Handprint Ceremony, where Nicklaus Children’s patients with cancer left their mark on a brand new, white Hyundai Santa Fe. This ceremony, which Hyundai Hope On Wheels holds across the country at each of its events, celebrates all of the children that the organization is striving to help. Nicklaus Children’s Hospital was one of 18 institutions nationwide to receive the Hyundai Impact Grant, which supports programmatic activities at children’s hospitals throughout the nation.

Hyundai Hope On Wheels® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to finding a cure for childhood cancer.  Launched in 1998, Hyundai Hope On Wheels provides grants to eligible institutions nationwide that are pursuing life-saving research and innovative treatments for the disease. Primary funding for Hyundai Hope On Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 800 U.S. dealers.  At the end of its 16th year, Hyundai Hope On Wheels will have awarded more than $86 million towards childhood cancer research in pursuit of a cure.