Irving Oil Donates $40,000 to Fuel the Care at CHaD

Seventh year for program that provides transportation assistance for sick children Dec. 18, 2009

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- With a backdrop of family, friends and staff members of the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Irving Oil announced a $40,000 donation for the 2010 Fuel the Care Program earlier this week. Since 2002, Irving's Fuel the Care program has helped make life a little easier for more than 20,000 families across New England and Atlantic Canada by providing gift cards to Irving gasoline stations for so that families can visit or take their children to the hospital when they need to, not just when they can afford to.

Families like Sue and Meghan Richardson [image-nocss] of Merrimack. The Richardson's make frequent trips to the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth so that 12-year-old daughter Meghan can receive treatments for Cystic Fibrosis. At 4 months old, Meghan was diagnosed with the chronic, terminal lung disease and faced numerous hospital stays and surgeries. "CHaD became a second home to our family, but getting here and back presented challenges because of the cost of gas and long drives," said Richardson. "The assistance Fuel the Care provides allows us to focus all our energy on what is most importantMeghan's well-being."

Richardson added, "Fortunately, Meghan's condition stabilized, but we still make monthly trips to both Lebanon and Manchester. These appointments are critical to Meghan's development as she transitions into her teenage years. We are very fortunate to have Fuel the Care and CHaD in our lives."

Irving partnered with CHaD in 2003, and Fuel the Care has since benefited thousands of families throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. Fuel the Care provides transportation assistance to families who are making the trip between home and hospital while a child in the family is receiving medical care.

"We are very thankful to everyone at Irving Oil for your continued support of the Fuel the Care program," said Mary Ann Aldrich, Division Director of Clinical Operations at CHaD. "I can't emphasize enough the importance of having a family participate in their child's care. We consider parents to be an integral part of the medical team. Having a family member in the hospital with their child is extremely important and helpful for a child's speedy recovery and well-being."

Irving Oil spokesperson Liza Dube said, "This program wouldn't be successful without the incredible partnership Irving has with the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. We might be able to help get families there, but the staff at CHaD are the real heroes."

With more than 800 fueling locations in New England and Atlantic Canada, Irving Oil is a leader in the Northeast in refining and fuel marketing.

[Pictured: Mary Ann Aldrich (left) and Rose Schwab (right) of the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock accept a check for $40,000 from Liza Dube (center) of Irving Oil.]

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