Welcome to our Team’s Walk and Play L.A. page! I am excited to celebrate my birthday this year in a new way. I hope that you'll join me in being a part of the 8th annual Walk and Play L.A. in support of the mission of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Many of you don't know this about me, but when I was 6 years old, I was hospitalized for Trichinosis. For those of you who don't know what Trichinosis is, it's a type of roundworm infection. These roundworm parasites (trichinella) use a host body to live and reproduce. This parasite made its way to my brain and I suffered from seizures and had to do treatment for a whole year.

Now, a lot of this is a blur to me, being that it happened 30+ years ago. However, my parents were grateful for the support they received from the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. They were happy for the care that I received - very happy to share that I fully recovered and grew up to be a healthy adult. On top of that, the care was provided at no cost, which for two immigrant, low-income parents, was a blessing.

As a new mom, I hope that my child never goes through something like this, but I feel at ease knowing that I can count on places like the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. More children receive care from CHLA than any other hospital in the region—and often CHLA comes to the rescue for children when other hospitals run out of medical options for their care. Walk and Play L.A. supports the only hospital solely dedicated to the health of children in Los Angeles.

Here are a few ways you can get involved:

* Donate to my Page to help me reach my fundraising goal.
* Join us and create your own fundraising page for Walk and Play L.A.!

I hope you’ll join me and help support my fundraising efforts with a donation to Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Your tax-deductible gift will make a difference in the lives of many young patients and their families. Any amount, large or small, will be greatly appreciated and will help us create hope and build healthier futures for the children in our care.

With gratitude,

Mayra