Hiking, Biking and Climbing: Adventurers Set Out in Support of Bronson Children’s Hospital
Pictured outside of Bronson’s administration building: Dr. Mark Atkinson, anesthesiologist, Kalamazoo Anesthesiology; Becky East, chief financial officer, Bronson Healthcare; Dr. Aaron Davies, pediatric hospitalist and interim chief clinical officer, Bronson Medical Group.
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — This summer, three Bronson leaders are taking on challenging adventures to raise awareness and funds for Bronson Children’s Hospital, the only children’s hospital in southwest Michigan.
Dr. Aaron Davies, interim chief clinical officer, Bronson Medical Group and pediatric hospitalist, Bronson Children’s Hospital; Dr. Mark Atkinson, anesthesiologist (retired) and former Bronson Healthcare Group Board Member; and Becky East, Bronson Healthcare chief financial officer, each set individual goals to hike, bike and climb (respectively) to support children’s hospital programs and services through Bronson Health Foundation.
Here are the highlights of each of their adventures:
Dr. Aaron Davies’ hiking journey began in 2014, when he set out from the Michigan-Ohio border to hike the 1,100 mile stretch of the Michigan section of the North Country Trail. For the next several summers, he spent about a week at a time covering sections of the trail, along the way raising awareness and making a personal financial pledge to the Pediatric Subspecialties Endowment. The endowment helps to recruit and sustain pediatric specialists at Bronson Children’s Hospital. While the pandemic and other life priorities put a pause on Davies’ hike for a few years, just this month, he was back on the trail, completing the final 162 miles of the trail, reaching the Michigan/Wisconsin border. “Since I started this journey, we’ve seen the medical needs of children in our community grow, and our subspecialty practices have needed to expand with that demand,” says Davies. “Step-by-step we continue the journey for and with patients in need of specialized pediatric care, close to home.” See more about Dr. Davies’ hike here.
Dr. Mark Atkinson officially retired from his full-time role at the end of 2023, but still puts on his scrubs as an anesthesiologist a couple days a week at Bronson. When he’s not working, you’ll likely find him on his bicycle, training for a big cross-country ride that will take him 3,567 miles from Oregon to New Hampshire starting July 7. When he decided to do his coast-to-coast ride, he set a goal of raising $20,000 for Bronson Children’s Hospital and has already raised more than double that! Among his supporters are his colleagues from Kalamazoo Anesthesiology, who made a generous $25,000 gift. “Bronson Children's Hospital holds a special place in my heart,” says Atkinson. “I've witnessed firsthand the remarkable impact Bronson has on the lives of individuals and families. At a time when many pediatric programs are being closed in our country, I want to recognize the importance of this vital and underappreciated asset to our community.” See more about Dr. Atkinson’s Coast to Coast Ride here.
Becky East spends her weekdays focused on hospital finances, but she’ll have just one number in mind coming up in early fall of this year. That number – 19,341 feet – the height of Mt. Kilimanjaro, which she’ll be climbing in late September. While the goal is reaching Africa’s highest peak, East is also focused on raising funds for the Children’s Hospital. “Although this journey may be one of the most physically challenging times of my life, it certainly will not be the scariest,” says East. “In fact, one of those times is reserved for when my daughter, Kayla, was admitted for almost a week at Bronson Children’s Hospital when she was five years old. As a mother, I was terrified,” she recalls. But, East also says she remembers “the doctors, nurses and child-life specialists going the extra mile to do what was best for my daughter. I am personally inspired to give back, to climb not just for the summit, but in support of vital resources and services for young patients and families.” See more about East’s Kilimanjaro climb here.
“Hearing about the adventures each of these colleagues and friends have undertaken in support of the children’s hospital is both impressive and uplifting,” says Terry Morrow, president of Bronson Health Foundation. “The fact that they turned these personal goals into opportunities to bring attention and support to the needs of our children’s hospital makes it extra-meaningful and we are cheering them on every mile of the way.”
To learn more about the Children’s Hospital Fund, the Pediatric Subspecialty Endowment and other services supported by Bronson Health Foundation, visit bronsonfoundation.com.
