My Story…
Hello! My name is Kam Chan and I am serving as the Director of Recruitment for Pitt Dance Marathon 2026. Pitt Dance Marathon raises money for the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, being put into their unrestricted fund, allowing the hospital to put it towards everything from books for the children to groundbreaking research-allowing the children to live a better life day in and day out. Originally, I joined PDM to live out the legacy of my 6th grade teacher, Miss Sciullo, who had passed away from cancer in 2021. She served as my mentor and truly impacted so many through her commitment of service and teaching. I truly wouldn’t be who I am today without having her impact my life.
As I’ve gone through PDM, my “Why” has evolved from just living out a legacy. My freshman year roommate and brother in ZBT, Alex, had been diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma this past winter. Completely out of nowhere, it truly showcased that anyone can be affected; however, Alex took this chance to really become a symbol for the community banding behind one cause. In partnership with ZBT x PDM, we hosted a joint kickball tournament raising over $1,000 for Children’s Miracle Network and truly showcased how while the Pitt community is growing extensively-we never fail to gather around a cause that affects everyone.
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Not only that but meeting the Champion and their families have really shown me the impact that even one person has on them. I’ve had the pleasure at Ignite to meet one of the National Champions, Ella, who doesn’t let anything stand in her way, especially having fun! Meeting her and all of the Champion kids truly emphasizes the impact our fundraising does for these families, allowing them to still be a kid no matter the circumstances.
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Thank you for supporting me! Together, we can change kids' health and change the future.
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As part of Team Children's, my participation in the 2026 Pittsburgh Marathon supports UPMC Children's Hospital Foundation.
Funds support the patients and families served by UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Last year UPMC Children's Hospital had over 1 million patient visits and many of the programs, initiatives, and resources that make UPMC Children’s so special are funded by philanthropic gifts. Things like distraction therapy which provides patients something else to focus on during their medical procedures, the Child Life Department which provides many activities to create a sense of normalcy for hospitalized children, and the Free Care Fund which covers the cost of medical care for those that cannot afford it. These areas are not covered by insurance, yet are critically important to helping families face the many challenges that accompany a child’s treatment.
Please consider donating to support the patient champions at UPMC Children's! You can donate directly on this page or send a check to the address below and make a note that you are sponsoring my efforts.
UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation
Attention: Pittsburgh Marathon
4401 Penn Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
Recent donors
| Donation date | Donor name | Donation amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 02 | Anonymous | $75.00 |
