More than 5,000 people came together across six locations for the Northwell Walk to Raise Health, raising more than $1.32 million for local hospital programs and services.
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At the Northwell Walk to Raise Health’s Jones Beach event, the Plant family shared their gratitude for the lifesaving care that their son received at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. Left to right: Cohen Children’s nurse Vickie Tsaklanos, RJ Plant, Andrew Plant, Katz Institute for Women’s Health medical director Stephanie McNally, MD, Dia Plant and Angelina Plant (foreground).
Supporters including patients and their families, community members and Northwell employees joined walks on Sunday, May 17 in New York at Jones Beach and in Port Jefferson, Riverhead, Westchester and Staten Island — and for the first time — in Norwalk, Connecticut, to welcome the newest members of the Northwell community after the health system’s merger with Nuvance Health last year. Each walk raises funds for initiatives including women’s health, cancer care and pediatric health programs at Northwell hospitals in their respective communities.
“It’s inspiring to see the outpouring of support across six locations of the Northwell Walk to Raise Health, with thousands of patients, families, community members and team members driven by our mission to improve health for all,” said Amelia Alverson, executive vice president and chief development officer for Northwell Health. “They fuel our ability to expand access and create new programs, treatments and cures, close to home.”
At Jones Beach, supporters enjoyed appearances by former New York Rangers players Tom Laidlaw and Stéphane Matteau, Mr. & Mrs. Met and the New York Islanders’ Sparky the Dragon before joining the walk, which raised funds for women’s and children’s health at the Katz Institute for Women’s Health and Cohen Children’s Medical Center.
Andrew and Dia Plant, along with their children, joined the Jones Beach Walk in gratitude for the lifesaving care their son, RJ, received at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. RJ was born with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a rare genetic condition that prevents his body from producing cortisol, the hormone responsible for regulating stress response, blood pressure and other essential functions. In January 2022, after developing a stomach virus, 8-year-old RJ rapidly declined and he was rushed by ambulance to a hospital, where his condition continued to worsen.
Knowing her son needed specialized pediatric care, Dia advocated for an emergency transfer to Cohen Children’s Medical Center. A Cohen Children’s transfer nurse, Vickie Tsaklanos, stabilized RJ and accompanied him in the ambulance to the hospital, where a full pediatric emergency and critical care team was waiting to receive him. His parents were told the first 12 to 24 hours would be critical and were forced to confront the possibility he might not recover. After a stay that included four days in the intensive care unit, RJ made a full recovery and is now a healthy, active 12-year-old.
“Cohen Children’s saved RJ’s life,” said Dia Plant. “During a very scary and uncertain time for my family, the doctors, nurses and other hospital staff treated us with kindness, compassion and transparency. Our experience taught us a very important lesson, that where you go for medical care matters. Cohen Children’s is now the only place for our children’s care.”
Across New York and Connecticut, funds raised at the other five walks will enhance services at hospitals in their local communities. The Port Jefferson Walk supports the Fortunato Breast Cancer Center at Mather Hospital, and the East End/Riverhead Walk will expand Peconic Bay Medical Center’s cancer services and breast health programs. Funds raised at the Westchester Walk support Northern Westchester Hospital’s team member wellness program as well as Phelps Hospital’s Community Paramedicine Program and Caregivers Center. The Staten Island Walk supports advanced care at Staten Island University Hospital’s Florina Cancer Center and Brian Halpin Pediatric Cancer Center. The Norwalk Walk will expand personalized cancer care programs at Norwalk Hospital’s Whittingham Cancer Center.
Fundraising continues through June 5 at northwellwalk.com.
The Walk began 16 years ago as the “Every Woman Matters Walk,” inspired by the vision of philanthropists Iris and Saul Katz, whose commitment to high-quality health care continues to be felt throughout Northwell. Since its inception, the Northwell Walk to Raise Health has raised more than $11 million.
About Northwell Health
Northwell is the largest not-for-profit health system in the Northeast, serving residents of New York and Connecticut with 28 hospitals, more than 1,000 outpatient facilities, 22,000 nurses and over 20,000 physicians. Northwell cares for more than three million people annually in the New York metro area, including Long Island, the Hudson Valley, western Connecticut and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Northwell is New York State’s largest private employer with over 106,000 employees – including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners and Nuvance Health Medical Practices – who are working to change health care for the better. Northwell, named a TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2025, is making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. Northwell is training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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