RELEASE ON RECEIPT





                                           CONTACT:  Katherine Jackson

            CMC PATIENT TO JOIN DISNEY CHARACTERS ON NATIONAL TV

                 Children's Miracle Network Salutes "Young Champions"
                   on Annual Telethon Saturday from Disney World

	CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA., May 29 --A University of Virginia Children's  
Medical Center (CMC) patient will appear on the Children's Miracle Network's 
national telethon broadcast from Walt Disney World in Orlando this weekend.   
Joshua Sundquist, 11, a Harrisonburg native was chosen to represent Virginia, 
joining representatives from across the United States and Canada. 
	This year's national theme is a celebration of young champions in 
their fight for health. Joshua, who lost part of his left leg to Ewing's 
sarcoma, a malignant tumor, in 1994 now enjoys mountain biking and skiing. 
	The telethon is a live broadcast featuring local segments of CMC 
patients, families and staff. During national segments celebrities and 
children from across the country join to raise money to support children's 
health care. The telethon will air on local NBC affiliate Channel 4 from 
8 p.m. Saturday to 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Local segments will appear the last 
20 minutes of each hour until midnight Saturday and resume at 7:40 a.m. 
Sunday.  This year the Children's Miracle Network Telethon proceeds will 
support pediatric outpatient services, where children receive treatment 
ranging from routine check-ups to day surgery.
	Last year's annual telethon raised about $655,779 for the CMC and 
programs for area children.  It's the 12th year that U.Va. has participated 
in the event.  It will be shown live from the 7th floor of University 
Hospital, with WVIR-TV's Dave Cupp, Angella Husted, Mari White and 
Robert Van Winkle as co-hosts.  They'll offer live and taped features on CMC 
patients and programs.
	Children's Miracle Network is an international non-profit 
organization that generates fund and awareness raising programs to benefit 
children and 162 associated hospitals for children in the U.S. and Canada.
	The CMC, organized in 1984, is a comprehensive network of health 
care facilities dedicated to the care of children from birth through 
adolescense.  Every year, more than 66,000 children across central Virginia 
and beyond receive care at the CMC.
	New local corporate telethon sponsors include Virginia Power, 
Jungle Max, and Armstrong and Associates.  These join a long list of 
community supporters, including GE/Fanuc, Klockner-Pentaplast, Sprint-Centel, 
Super Fresh Food Stores and Virginia Oil. 
                                     ###
                                                   May 28, 1996