Fund raiser to benefit children’s hospital
Imagine your child is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and your family suddenly has to be uprooted to receive treatment in another city because there are no beds available at the local children’s hospital in your hometown. That is the case for many children and families who are trying to cope with a devastating diagnosis. That’s why Gary and Heather Nychyk, the new owners of the first Papa Murphy’s of Fort Myers will celebrate their grand opening on Thursday, March 14, by hosting a Raining Pizzas event to raise money to help build the new Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida in Fort Myers.
“Our young nephew, Randall, was diagnosed with a brain tumor when he was only 5 years old. Luckily, my nephew and his family were able to receive wonderful treatment, right here in Fort Myers at the local children’s hospital. But we realize that’s not the case for many families,” said Gary Nychyk, owner of the new Papa Murphy’s of Fort Myers in a prepared statement. “Many families have to travel to Miami or Tampa to receive their care because there are no beds left at the current children’s hospital in Fort Myers, and it makes me want to give back in a big way. That’s why we’re raising money to help build the new and expanded children’s hospital in Fort Myers.”
In honor of Randall, the Nychyks will donate 50 percent of their net proceeds at their new Papa Murphy’s store, at 4600 Summerlin Rd., from March 14 through March 21, to the hospital’s Capital Campaign to help build the new children’s hospital. All funds raised will also be matched by the hospital’s namesake.
The Nychyks will kick-off the week-long donation drive by Making it RainPizzas! on Thursday, March 14. They’re inviting the public to “catch their dinner” as it falls hundreds of feet from the sky from a hot air balloon. The pizza drop will take palce around 6 p.m. at the Sam Fleishman Regional Sports Complex – 1750 Matthew Drive (Deleon) in Fort Myers, baseball field number two.
“My young nephew hasn’t won his battle with cancer just yet, but we know he will,” said Nychyk. “Randall still receives treatment at the local children’s hospital and we want to be able to help provide a new facility for our nephew and other kids like him a facility where they can receive tremendous care and can win their health battles right here in the city they call home.”