Take 5 Oil Change kicks off 18th annual Children’s Hospital fundraiser
This year’s patient ambassador is Creed Kolasa who has a form of Muscular Dystrophy and receives care at Duke Children's.
Starting today, Take 5 is launching its nationwide initiative to raise funds for 25 children’s hospitals throughout the country.
Every year, Take 5 Oil Change works with hospitals to designate a patient ambassador as the face of the campaign, and to raise awareness about childhood diseases, and the care provided by children’s hospitals.
This year’s patient ambassador is Creed Kolasa, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and receives care at Duke Children’s in Durham. He and his family recently stopped by his local Take 5 Oil Change shop in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he and the staff met.
Creed’s parents knew that something was wrong when he was a baby. Getting a clear diagnosis was the first challenge, and the answer was devastating: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, an incurable disease that impacts 1 in 4,000 boys. The hospital that diagnosed Creed couldn’t offer any help, so Creed’s family looked elsewhere for hope. When neurologist Dr. Eddie Smith told Creed’s mom “I can’t cure him but let’s talk about what I can do to help him,” she knew she was in the right place: Duke Children’s.
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy destroys a child’s ability to walk and move. Motor skills diminish throughout childhood, and typically this results in losing the ability to walk by age 12.
Duke Children’s is home to a comprehensive Duchenne clinic, run by Dr. Smith, which enables these patients and their families to see all their specialists in one visit under one roof to ease the burden on the families. Duke Children’s is also involved in several clinical trials involving Duchenne.
Creed makes the 2-hour trip to Duke Children’s from his home in Fayetteville twice a year for his specialist visits and to participate in clinical trials and has had more than 300 weekly infusions at home. Because of the care that he receives at Duke Children’s, Creed, now eleven, can run, swim, and even play baseball! He loves everything Duke Football, video games, and playing outside with his siblings.
Last year, Take 5 Oil Change raised $1.1 million for children’s hospitals. The funds raised will be distributed locally to ensure that each hospital receives the support it needs to provide the best possible care for its young patients.
“Last year, we witnessed the incredible generosity of our customers and the difference it made for children’s hospitals,” said Mo Khalid, President and EVP, Take 5 Oil Change. “This year, we are confident that we can surpass our previous achievements and provide much-needed support to these hospitals. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of children and their families.”
Everyone who donates $3 or more at a Take 5 Oil Change location will be entered into a drawing for a free oil change, with one winner per location. Every donation, no matter how small, will contribute to the overall goal and help provide critical resources to children's hospitals nationwide. The campaign will continue through September 2.