Jump on a Bike to Help NICU Families

CHICAGO, IL– Did you know cycling with Jackson Chance Foundation can help Jackson Chance Foundation expand to Northwestern Prentice Women’s Hospital (#Parking4Prentice)? Join founders Carrie and Terry and #TeamChance for Owl Ride for Jackson, an 111 mile ride from downtown Chicago to Valparaiso, IN on August 20 & 21, 2016. The mission of Jackson Chance Foundation is to ensure that the financial burden of parking and transportation does not stand in the way of any parent being with their critically ill child.

Carrie and Terry Meghie started Jackson Chance Foundation in honor of their son, Jackson Chance, who spent all but 48 hours of his short ten-month life in the NICU. Carrie and Terry were fortunate to have the resources and support to spend each and every day with Jackson while in the NICU. During that time, they witnessed firsthand how many babies were without their parents due to the high cost of parking and transportation. The first-ever Owl Ride for Jackson is to honor him and his unique birthdate of 11/11/11, born at 11:11pm, with a 111-mile ride and the goal to help even more families through the #Parking4Prentice campaign.

Jackson Chance Foundation will provide the bike route with rest stops, t-shirts, water bottles, sport packs, and additional items, as well as other logistics for the ride. Each day cyclists will ride approximately 55.5 miles with 4 to 5 rest stops, which will take between 5-7 hours. Riders will need to provide a bike and appropriate gear, book and pay for hotel rooms ($110/room with room block), and commit to raise $1,111 by setting up a fundraising page with the foundation.

Founder Carrie Meghie says, “Terry and I started Owl Ride for Jackson to offer our community a fun, meaningful, and unique way to support our foundation and remember our son, the true founder. The 111 mile ride not only honors Jackson, but the significance stands as a symbol for all of the numbers people hold dear, whether it's a birthday or the number of days spent in the NICU. It's a big achievement for each rider and we hope that shows people how important this cause is.”

First Annual Owl Ride for Jackson

Sponsored by SP+, Becker Entertainment, Mista Brown’s Original Jerk Sauce,

Hard Rock Hotel Chicago, Mr. Brown’s Lounge, and Chuck’s: A Kerry Simon Kitchen

START: August 20th, 8 a.m.

55.5 mile ride from Grant Park to Valparaiso. Snacks, lunch, rest stops, and dinner and drinks will be provided. There will be 4-5 rest stops along the way.

FINISH: August 21st, 4 p.m.

55.5 miles ride from Valparaiso to Grant Park. Breakfast, snacks, and lunch will be provided. There will be 4-5 rest stops along the way. There will be a dinner reception at Hard Rock Hotel Chicago following the conclusion of the ride on Sunday.

COST: $100/rider plus lodging (room block at Country Inn & Suites in Valparaiso, IN) and fundraising commitment of $1,111

DETAILS: www.jacksonchance.org, #OwlRideforJackson #Parking4Prentice

The Need

In downtown Chicago, a family could spend upwards of $45/day or $1,000/month to see their critically ill baby before work, during lunch, and after work. Jackson Chance Foundation partners with hospitals to ensure every family, regardless of need, has access to a 24/7 monthly parking pass from JCF and can come and go as they please with one less burden. More frequent visits enable precious parental-infant bonding by providing families the opportunity to stop by for a quick visit or stay for a full 24 hours without having to think about the price tag.

Currently, the NICU Transportation Program is at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago with the goal of expanding. Since the creation of JCF, the hope has been to expand the program to Northwestern Prentice Women’s Hospital, a 90-bed unit twice the size of Lurie Children’s, and where Jackson spent 4 months of his life. In fact, families at Prentice experience higher rates of parking even though they are using the same garage. While it costs the same $11 for a visit less than 7 hours, a visit over 7 hours is $25, $10 more than Lurie Children’s. Jackson Chance Foundation is working hard to expand the NICU Transportation Program and they need Chicago to join the #Parking4Prentice campaign.