Margarita Goes the Extra Mile for Kids

Many things have changed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. But one thing that hasn’t changed: Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford team member Margarita Ramirez is looking forward to Scamper-ing—this year doing so virtually.

“Scamper is definitely a positive activity for the hospital,” says Margarita, an administrative assistant in Environmental Services who has worked at Packard Children’s for 20 years. She has participated in every Summer Scamper since the community fundraising event started in 2011. Margarita’s favorite part of Scamper? Spending time with her friends.

“That first year, we didn’t run; we walked and chatted with each other,” Margarita recalls. “It was a beautiful experience just to get together with my friends.”

Another year, the group formed a Scamper team called the “Spring Chickens” and even wore chicken hats as they ran the course.

This year, Margarita will celebrate Scamper on June 21 by meeting a friend outside the Stanford Dish to run their own 5k around the periphery with six feet of distance between them. Margarita and her friend will be joined virtually by many other community members who will raise funds for Packard Children’s throughout the month of June. They will Scamper in their own ways, in their homes or neighborhoods and post pictures to Scamper’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.

“Every year, I try to improve my time,” says Margarita, who not only runs but fundraises as well.  

Margarita started participating in Summer Scamper to raise funds for autism research, a program close to her heart because she has a nephew who has autism.

“Every year I run to fundraise to improve early diagnosis of autism and find better treatments,” she says.

This year Margarita feels it’s more important than ever to participate in Scamper “as a way to give back,” she says. “It’s tough times right now for a lot of families. With the funds raised, we can support kids who need care, regardless of their families’ financial circumstances. That’s very important.”

Thank you, Margarita, for going the extra mile to help our patients and families!

To register to virtual Scamper, visit SummerScamper.org.