Jenna Waters featured in hospital fundraiser

    Ainsworth resident Jenna Waters was recently honored by the University of Iowa Children?s Hospital. The children?s hospital is raising funds through a program called ?Touchdowns for Kids,? whereby Hawkeye fans pledge funds to the hospital for every touchdown the football team scores this season. The hospital chose Waters as its poster child for its first year of fundraising for the program. Jenna?s photo has been seen on signs and even the paper tray-liners at McDonald?s restaurants.

    Jenna is the 5-year-old daughter of Christina and Jared Waters. She was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer in January 2009. Jenna began receiving chemotherapy for the cancer almost immediately from the Children?s Hospital. Jenna went to the Children?s Hospital on a monthly basis for one year, and spent three days in the hospital every time she went.

    Michelle Altmaier, director of the Children?s Miracle Network at the University Hospitals, contacted the Waterses about putting Jenna on the fundraising literature. Altmaier said she became acquainted with Jenna through the Dance Marathon program at the University of Iowa, which also raises money for the Children?s Hospital. Christina was also invited to share her family?s story at one of Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz?s luncheons, which she did earlier this month.

    ?Jenna was such a wonderful young patient,? said Altmaier. ?She loved the Hawkeyes, and we thought she would be a great spokesperson for us. She?s got a pretty inspiring story.?

For the full story, see the Sept. 20 edition of The Washington Evening Journal