Pediatric Specialty Care in Erie

Speaker 1:
Miss Wheelchair America Pageant contestants continue their tour of Erie this week.

Speaker 2:
Today at Shriners Hospital for Children, interacting with patients and staff, title holders from 26 States stopped at the medical center to visit with children, helping to instill confidence and leadership skills as part of their mission. The Miss Wheelchair America visitors also helped to make bracelets that will be donated to Emily's Beads for Needs, a fundraising initiative started by a young Shriners patient.

Eliza Stauffer:
It's really fulfilling for many of us because we grew up with Shriners. We're Shriner patients ourselves and so, to get to come here and collaborate and bring attention to how much good Shriners has done for us, and then to pay it forward, is just a very full circle of advocacy.

Speaker 2:
The pageant is in Erie this weekend. Organizers say the participants are judged on their public speaking, advocacy, and the initiative. The winner of Miss Wheelchair USA becomes a spokeswoman for people with disabilities.

Speaker 1:
On road-

Speaker 1:
A professional NASCAR driver makes a pit stop in Erie at the Shriners Hospital for Kids. David Ragan, visiting with sick children and their families for several hours at Erie's hospital. A Shriner himself, Ragan got the chance to judge a food contest using ingredients grown by Shriners kids. He even signed some autographs for the young fans. Ragan says Shriners Hospital is his official charity.

David Ragan:
All of these young kids are going through some struggles in one way or another in their life, and to have the Shriners Hospitals for Children kind of be there for them, it's rewarding to see their spirit.

Speaker 1:
Although he lives in Charlotte, Ragan says one of the first races of his career happened at Lake Erie Speedway. He also regularly competes at nearby Watkins Glen.