PRESS RELEASE:
Local Child with Severe Chronic Asthma says… “Bring on the Heat!”
Dream On 3 Helps Concord Boy Live Out Sports Dream In Miami
(Charlotte, NC) January 31, 2014 – As Concord residents bundle up to face a chilly Monday morning, one local child will be saying… “Bring on the Heat!” Zachyus Bowers is an 11-year old Concord resident who lives with severe chronic asthma. On February 3, Charlotte’s very own non-profit wish granting organization, Dream On 3, will give Zachyus the opportunity to live out his sports dream in sunny Miami, FL.
Zachyus is a patient at Carolinas Healthcare System’s Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital, located on the campus of CMC-NorthEast. He loves the game of basketball and is a huge fan of the reigning NBA national champions, the Miami Heat. When asked by Dream On 3 what his sports dream was, Zachyus shared … “I want to be a basketball player in the NBA so that I can have the chance to give back to others and be a good role model, like Dwyane Wade.” Dream On 3 will give Zachyus an experience of a lifetime and show him that despite the challenges of his illness, his dreams can come true!
In conjunction with Cabarrus Charter Academy and the staff at Carolinas Healthcare System’s Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital, an exciting sendoff has been planned for the morning of his Dream Experience. At approximately 8:00 am on February 3rd, Zachyus’s friends, family, doctors and teachers will gather to help whisk him off to Miami in VIP fashion.
Due to the severity of his condition, Zachyus requires an inhaler & nebulizer present with him at all times. He must carry several medications to treat his symptoms and schedule routine visits with his pulmonologist. Children with severe chronic asthma experience symptoms continuously. Episodes of wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath are frequent and often require emergency treatment or even hospitalization. Zachyus has been hospitalized numerous times and is limited to only short periods of physical activity.
Dream On 3 (DO3) was founded in 2012 to support children with chronic illnesses, developmental disabilities, and life-altering conditions. The goal is to unite kids’ passion for sports with an unforgettable Dream Experience. DO3 is one of only a few wish-granting organizations to extendbenefits to children with chronic illnesses, such as severe chronic asthma.
They have received overwhelming support from the local healthcare community, and other national organizations for their attention to this group of children.
“Dream On 3 is amazing! Our team at Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital has thoroughly enjoyed working alongside this outstanding group.” ~ Lisa Webster, BS, CCLS (Manager, Child Life – Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital)
“Every child should strive for a life without limits and we are grateful for Dream On 3 helping Zachyus take another step in that direction.” ~William McLin (President and CEO Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America).
For more information about Dream On 3, Zachyus Bowers, or to attend the sendoff on February 3rd, please contact Elizabeth Lindsey at 704-301-5217 or email info@dreamon3.org.
Dream On 3 Mission Statement:
“Making dreams come true for children with chronic illnesses, developmental disabilities, or life-altering conditions by creating experiences of joy and magic through the world of sports”
Dream On 3 - DO3 