Musicians On Call & Hyundai Hope On Wheels Bring the Joys of Music to Pediatric Hospital Patients for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
October 09 2024 - 8:48AM
Every year, 40,000 children undergo treatments in their battles
against childhood cancers. Each September, Childhood Cancer
Awareness Month brings together organizations nationwide to raise
awareness and critical funds to further the research and treatment
of these diseases. This year the nonprofits Hyundai Hope On Wheels
and Musicians On Call (MOC) partnered to bring the healing power of
music to pediatric oncology patients, delivering hope and light
during a dark time.
Hyundai Hope On Wheels’ Youth Ambassadors Emmy and
Raynie met up with singer/songwriter Jax and hit songwriter Sam
Hollander in New York City for a MOC Songwriting session. Together
they wrote, recorded and produced “Hope Lights the Way.” With
lyrics like, “It takes the sun and rain to make a rainbow / If you
wanna be brave, don’t let ‘em knock you down / There’s joy and pain
in every struggle / But there’s always a light at the end of the
tunnel,” the song is a healing anthem to inspire other pediatric
patients through their battles with cancer. “Hope Lights the Way”
debuted at the Hyundai Hope On Wheels annual gala in Washington,
D.C. with a live performance by Jax, Emmy and Raynie that received
a standing ovation. The three were presented with commemorative
plaques by the Recording Industry Association of America. Special
thanks to Warner Chappell Music, TuneCore and the Dream Adopters,
“Hope Lights the Way” is available across all streaming
platforms.
Throughout the month, pediatric oncology patients
in Nashville and New York City enjoyed unforgettable visits by some
of music’s brightest talents. Old Dominion, Tiera Kennedy and
Chelsea Cutler participated in the Musicians On Call Bedside and
Virtual programs, performing for patients in their hospital rooms.
During their time visiting patients at TriStar Centennial
Children’s Hospital, Old Dominion brought smiles and shared laughs
with the children, their families and hardworking caregivers. Tiera
Kennedy had patients dancing and hands clapping during her visit to
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Chelsea Cutler
shared special connections with patients as she performed for
groups of patients and at the bedside at Memorial Sloan Kettering
Cancer Center.
“The battles that these young patients fight for
their health every day is inspiring and we wanted to give them some
hope and light to hold onto, especially during Childhood Cancer
Awareness Month. Meeting Emmy and Raynie and working with Hyundai
Hope On Wheels, we were able to share even more joy than we could
have imagined,” said Musicians On Call President & CEO Pete
Griffin. “We hope all the pediatric cancer fighters we visited
with, and those across the country, know they can find strength in
the healing power of music.”
“For over 25 years, Hyundai Hope On Wheels has been
deeply committed to helping kids fight cancer,” said John
Guastaferro, the foundation’s executive director. “Our partnership
with Musicians On Call will allow us to share the healing power of
music across the country and make children’s lives all that much
brighter.”
As the nation’s leading provider of live music in
hospitals, Musicians On Call brings live and recorded music to the
bedsides of patients, families and caregivers in healthcare
environments. More than one million people across all 50 states
have experienced the joys of live music in the hospital setting
through MOC’s bedside, virtual and streaming programs. Hyundai Hope
On Wheels® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed
to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Hyundai Hope On Wheels
provides grants to eligible institutions nationwide that are
pursuing critical research aimed at improving treatments and saving
lives.
Click here to learn more about Musicians On Call’s
and Hyundai Hope On Wheels’ partnership for Childhood Cancer
Awareness Month.
About Musicians On Call (MOC)As
the nation’s leading provider of live music in hospitals, Musicians
On Call (MOC) celebrates 25 years of delivering the healing power
of music to patients, families and caregivers in healthcare
environments. More than one million people across all 50 states
have experienced the joys of live music in the hospital setting
through MOC’s bedside, virtual and streaming programs. MOC
Volunteers perform live for children and adults facing any health
challenge, including Veterans recovering in VA facilities, family
members supporting loved ones in need and healthcare workers caring
for patients. With innovations like its online program platform,
the organization continues its work towards revolutionizing access
to music in healthcare. MOC’s network includes Volunteer Guides,
Volunteer Musicians and renowned artist supporters including Bruce
Springsteen, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Barry Manilow, Kelly
Clarkson, Darius Rucker, Katy Perry, Jason Derulo, Ed Sheeran,
Olivia Rodrigo, Reba McEntire, Camila Cabello, Nick Jonas, Blake
Shelton, Keith Urban, Pharrell, Kelsea Ballerini, The War And
Treaty, Amos Lee, Luis Fonsi, Peter Frampton, Luke Bryan, Charles
Esten and many more. For more information on how Musicians On Call
delivers the healing power of music, visit
www.musiciansoncall.org.
Hyundai Hope On WheelsHyundai 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 critical research aimed at improving treatments
and saving lives. Hyundai Hope On Wheels is one of the largest
nonprofit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country.
Primary funding for Hyundai Hope On Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor
America and its more than 835 U.S. dealers. In 2024, Hyundai Hope
On Wheels will surpass a lifetime total donation of $250 million in
support of more than 1,300 childhood cancer research grants to over
175 hospitals and research institutions.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/be2fa6ea-3a8d-4af0-9c79-ed512fe43cddhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/581fb80c-d161-4414-8770-17ca924c5fcahttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9a4c8079-5491-43ec-8ccb-2263981be8a8https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5df44051-5a1b-4998-bd90-e846e2cc7741https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cd0739fa-4fc6-4235-86e6-cfb408259c80https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9ca6bf2d-0323-42c5-9d1a-f78cd0d4d3adhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6eb59cd7-9ef3-4eaf-a7b6-389bd0b64016https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/18340023-db56-421a-a8d8-7d24a9c2779dhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c3fe0fea-d9f9-430c-98db-c241d43a5ec3https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a52f8d1e-636a-4a87-93e8-6adbcaa3655bhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/90b6c9f5-5573-468f-867e-944c5f57e20c
Musicians On Call Media Contact:
Melinda LaFollette
Senior Communications Manager, Musicians On Call
615.314.4378 (o) | 813.748.0123 (m) | melinda@musiciansoncall.org
Hyundai Hope On Wheels Contact:
John Guastaferro
(657) 583-5514 | jguastaferro@hmausa.com