From the moment a child is born they are brought into a world filled with love, beauty, and opportunities that await their precious lives. Unfortunately, some children are forced to battle unnecessary hardship through disease and other serious illnesses that prevent them from living a normal and healthy life. A struggle that most families must deal with is having to watch their child be confined to a hospital bed. No parent, sibling, or friend wants to see their loved ones suffer under any circumstances. Luckily, The Children's Miracle Network of Northern Nevada, an organization that partners with other charities and local businesses, is constantly raising money to help pay for the medical equipment and supplies that are needed in order for these children to obtain the high quality care and treatment that each of them deserves.

Renown's Children Hospital is one of more than 170 Children's Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH) within the nation that are dedicated in providing treatment to these children. According to CMN, 62 children are admitted into one of their hospitals every minute. One of the great things about CMN is that all of the funds and donations that are raised stay within the local community, and go directly to the Children's Hospital. Because of this organization, millions of children's lives are saved everyday.

One of the organizations that CMN has partnered with is the University of Nevada, Reno's very own pre-medical fraternity, Phi Delta Epsilon. Since establishing their chapter back in 2012, Phi Delta Epsilon has been fully dedicated in raising funds and awareness for this wonderful philanthropy. In 2014, they initiated an event formerly known as "Miracle Madness," but has recently been changed to "Wolf Pack Dance Marathon. (WPDM)" WPDM is a student-run event that aims to bring the community together for a day filled with dancing, fun activities, raffle prizes, and amazing performances. Last year, they were able to raise more than $14,000 for Renown, and this year their goal is to raise $20,000. The picture below is from the 2016 Miracle Madness, where the entire chapter revealed the amount of money that had been raised at the end of the event.

Throughout the year, the fraternity holds a number of other fundraisers including bake sales and donation pages to help meet this end goal. On Oct. 5th, 2016 the fraternity brought awareness to CMN through a national event known as "Stand for the Kids," a day that is meant to symbolize how we must walk for those who are not able to walk for themselves.They have taken their guiding principles of philanthropy, deity, and education and applied them towards benefiting the local community of Northern Nevada. For more information regarding WPDM and how you can help raise money for the CMN, you can visit their website here.

Organizations such as the Children's Miracle Network have changed the lives of millions of children in helping find the support and treatment that will allow them to sustain a healthy life. Through their constant fundraising and outreach, they are able to offer a wide variety of pediatric services, truly making miracles happen every single day.