Daytona Beach, FL - DAYTONA 500 Racing champion Jamie McMurray visited Florida Hosptial Memorial Medical Center on Thursday to help dedicate a new inpatient pediatric playroom.
McMurray, who drives the #1 Chevrolet SS for Chip Ganassi Racing, had made an undisclosed personal gift to support the pediatric playroom. “As a parent, I've experienced having to come back to the hospital with your child. I think it is amazing to have a room like this for kids who are patients – or even their brother or sister – to come and play and take their minds off everything they are going through while they are here in the hospital,” McMurray said.
The 10-bed pediatric unit opened in May and is inspired by scenes from Daytona Beach, decorated with designs of ocean waves, palm trees, dolphins, and race cars, along with chairs in the shape of tires, tool chests, and blimps.
Darlinda Copeland, chief operating officer for the hospital says the hospital wanted to create a fun and vibrant healing environment that would help put the children at ease. “This new unit perfectly reflects our community, incorporating the beach Volusia County is famous for, as well as our rich history of racing. Florida Hospital is the official healthcare partner of Daytona International Speedway, and this theme of racing plays out throughout our new unit and into the playroom, which is essential to kids’ healing," says Copeland.
McMurray also got to tour the pediatric unit and meet some of the children who benefited from the playroom.
The playroom was also made possible through an undisclosed donation from Chip Ganassi and Rob Kauffman of Chip Ganassi Racing. “We consider this playroom a gift to the community, which would not be possible without the Chip Ganassi Racing team,” said Copeland. “We are so proud to have Jamie with us today, as he generously donated in support our new playroom. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to show him how those funds will help the kids of our community.”
Both above photos feature McMurray (gray shirt) in the pediatric unit with Alec Riley, age 9, of Palm Coast (blue shirt) and Maxwell Chacon, age 5, of New Smyrna Beach (red shirt).
Above are McMurray and Copeland in front of the pediatric playroom.
Above is McMurray with Jasmine Santana of Ormond Beach, her six-week-old baby girl, Milani Santana, and nurse Mayble Promise.
All photos courtesy Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center.
Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.
