Dallas, TX -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/02/2011 -- Natalie Hudson, a 17-year-old Coppell resident and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (TSRHC) patient, will serve as a 2011 Patient Champion for the MetroPCS® Dallas White Rock Marathon® benefiting TSRHC.

The Patient Champions serve as young ambassadors for TSRHC, representing thousands of patients treated at the hospital each year. The Patient Champion program is a way for the community to participate in race-weekend activities and fundraise on behalf of a patient. Participants can create their own online pledge page in honor of our five patient champions, to encourage support from friends and family, with all donations benefiting TSRHC.

Since 1997, the hospital has been the primary beneficiary of the Dallas White Rock Marathon®, which includes a full and half marathon, 5-person relay and the SMU Cox Corporate Relay Challenge presented by Behringer Harvard. This year's marathon will take place Sunday, December 4.

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (TSRHC) patient Natalie, age 17 of Coppell, has been a patient at TSRHC since she was 3 weeks old.

Born missing her left hand, Natalie has proven that anything is possible with the right attitude and help from the physicians in the hospital’s Charles E. Seay, Jr. Hand Center http://www.tsrhc.org/hand-center.htm. A junior at New Tech High at Coppell and Head Captain for the colorguard, Natalie uses a fingerless glove—fabricated in the hospital’s prosthetics department—that she wears over her left arm to grip the flag during a performance. This year, she shared her talents with fellow hand patients at TSRHC where she performed a duet with a close friend and fellow colorguard member. For Natalie, who recalls learning to tie her shoes at TSRHC, the hospital has been a place for her to flourish as she grew from a child into a young adult. For the past four years, Natalie has been a regular at a camp offered to TSRHC patients with hand differences http://www.tsrhc.org/hand-disorders.htm. Natalie is a wonderful example to her peers and fellow patients alike.

About the MetroPCS® Dallas White Rock Marathon®:Voted the top marathon and half marathon in the state by Competitor Texas magazine, the MetroPCS® Dallas White Rock Marathon® is a flat and fast race, featuring a start/finish in Fair Park and a scenic course that includes a 10-mile loop around White Rock Lake. The race serves as a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon. The primary beneficiary of weekend events is Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. For more information, visit the official MetroPCS® Dallas White Rock Marathon® website at http://www.runtherock.com.

About TSRHC
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children is one of the nation's leading pediatric centers for the treatment of orthopaedic conditions, such as scoliosis http://www.tsrhc.org/scoliosis-spine.htm, clubfoot http://www.tsrhc.org/clubfoot-foot-disorders.htm, hip dysplasia http://www.tsrhc.org/hip-dyslasia-perthes.htm, hand disorders http://www.tsrhc.org/hand-disorders.htm, and Legg-Perthes http://www.tsrhc.org/hip-dysplasia-legg-perthes.htm, and certain related neurological disorders and learning disorders, such as dyslexia. Admission is open to Texas children from birth up to 18 years of age. Patients receive treatment regardless of the family's ability to pay. For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation, please call (214) 559-5000 or (800) 421-1121 or visit http://www.tsrhc.org.