Tim Campbell, right, with his twin children, Tim Jr. and Hollen, who are graduates of Akron Children’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
September 28 is a big day for Tim Campbell this year. The day he takes on the Blue Line for the 16th time is also the day his twin children, Tim Jr. and Hollen, turn 28.
Born via emergency C-section at 3:30 a.m., the twins were almost 8-weeks premature and were immediately transported to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Akron Children’s Hospital.
“They were at Akron Children’s for almost 6 weeks,” Tim said. “And they received excellent care and attention.”
The Akron Marathon, Half Marathon, & Team Relay presented by FirstEnergy falling on the same day that Tim and his family will celebrate the twins’ 28th birthday provided him with extra motivation — not only to run, but also to raise money for Akron Children’s as a Children’s Champion.
“I thought, I need to be motivated to get running again, so if I do a fundraising page and ask people to donate money then I need to run the thing,” Tim said.
Last year was the first year Tim became aware of the Children’s Champion fundraising program and he signed up. However, shortly after signing up he underwent back surgery and his participation in the Akron Marathon was up in the air.
“When I volunteered at the expo last year they talked me into making a game-day decision, so I went out there that morning and ended up running the half,” he said.
This year, Tim is signed up for the entire Akron Children’s Hospital Akron Marathon Race Series and when September 28 comes around he’ll be running the full marathon with extra motivation from his kids and his donors.
“I tie my completion of the marathon to the donations I receive,” he said. “In my case, it provides motivation. I don’t want to let people down who donated. And it’s just a great way to become involved in an effort to make things better for our community through Akron Children’s.”
With less than 100 days to go until race day, Tim has already raised $900 and is setting a goal of raising $3,000.
“I’d like to get the message out to my kids’ friends that if anybody knows or likes Tim Jr. or Hollen Campbell, please make a donation because they wouldn’t be around without Akron Children’s,” Tim said.
Tim Jr. and Hollen Campbell spent 6 weeks in the Akron Children’s NICU.
To donate to Tim’s Children’s Champion fundraising efforts, click here. If you’re also running the Blue Line this September and would like more information on the Children’s Champion program, you can reach out to Nicci Avalon at navalon@akronchildrens.org
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