Navicent Health has a $20,000,000 fundraising goal for new children’s hospital

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) -$20,000,000 is the fundraising goal for the new Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital.

Hayley Vann, Development Officer for the Navicent Health Foundation, said Saturday’s 25th annual Reindeer Run and Santa Stroll helped the foundation get closer to its goal.

“Having a children’s hospital in Central Georgia is so vital for Georgia, especially being off of 75,” Vann said. “We service over 52 counties in a lot of South Georgia regions.”

The Reindeer Run and Santa Stroll gave participants the option to run in the 5K, 10K, or one mile stroll for a fee.

Naomi Chatterton said she walked in the Santa Stroll not only to help raise money for a new building, but also to help the families of the children’s hospital.

“Everybody goes through times where they struggle, so it’s so important to make sure we’re giving to our society, especially for people who are really in need,” Chatterton said.

Vann said she’s grateful for the community’s support of the children’s hospital.

“It’s really vital to have a children’s hospital and if it wasn’t for our community we wouldn’t have a children’s hospital cause they are the ones helping us do this,” Vann said. “It puts a smile on my face that we have this many people that want to help us. ”

Navicent Health plans on opening the new hospital in 2019.