Katherine Virkstis, ND, Vice President, Clinical Advisory Services
During our August Get Well Wednesday, we had the pleasure of speaking with Cindy Harwin, Director of In-Hospital Programs at Sunrise Association, about their unique Wheels Up! program. This innovative resource, available via Get Well’s solution for children’s hospitals, combines travel, art, and games to bring a world of adventure to hospitalized children. Today, I’m excited to share the story of Wheels Up!—what it is, how it came to be, and the difference it makes for children in hospitals around the world.
Sunrise on Wheels Brings the Joy of Summer Camp to Hospital Rooms
Sunrise Association’s mission is both simple and profound: to restore the fun, laughter, and normalcy of childhood for children fighting cancer and their often-overlooked siblings. Since 2006, Sunrise has been providing free, full-summer day camps for children with cancer and their siblings. What began with just 96 campers on Long Island in New York has now grown to serve over 2,400 campers across 13 camps in the United States and Israel. These camps allow children to sleep in their own beds at night, stay close to their medical teams, and, most importantly, experience the joy of being kids—whether they’re in treatment or full recovery.
Sunrise on Wheels, an extension of this mission, brings the joy of these camps into pediatric oncology units. Volunteers roll in a colorful tie-dye footlocker trunk, filled to the brim with games, toys, crafts, and music. This vibrant trunk becomes a mobile treasure chest, offering children a variety of activities that spark creativity and brighten their day. Each interaction, whether it’s a fun game, a creative craft, or a lively music session, helps to make their hospital stay feel a little more like a day at camp.
Wheels Up! A Virtual Adventure Around the World
In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic paused in-hospital programs, Sunrise Association faced a unique challenge: how to continue providing joy and entertainment to pediatric patients when volunteers couldn’t be present. The solution was as innovative as it was impactful—Wheels Up!, a virtual program that takes children on adventures around the globe, all from the safety of a hospital bed.
Wheels Up! was born out of a request from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, which needed longer, more engaging virtual content for their patients. The Sunrise team quickly got to work, creating a program that now boasts over 100 episodes, with more on the way. Produced in their in-house Sunrise Studios, these 30-minute episodes blend travel, crafts, music, and games into an entertaining and educational experience.
Each episode of Wheels Up! features three segments. First, children embark on a 10-minute adventure to destinations like Brazil, Australia, or even “roller coasters around the world,” all narrated in a child-friendly style with vibrant visuals. The second segment invites participants to get creative with a craft related to the day’s adventure, using materials that hospitals can easily provide. Finally, a fun trivia game lets children test their knowledge with questions that complement the episode’s theme.
A Global Impact
Since its inception, Wheels Up! has expanded beyond its initial scope, now being shown in over 200 hospitals and medical facilities across six countries. What began as a way to fill the void left by paused in-hospital programs has grown into a global initiative, supported by partners like American Airlines. Pilots, flight attendants, and ground crew members even make guest appearances, adding an extra layer of excitement to each episode.
Wheels Up! is designed for every child in the hospital, not just those with cancer. The program is easily accessible through Get Well, and children who are discharged can continue to enjoy the episodes at home via the Sunrise Studios app or YouTube. Importantly, there is no mention of illness in any of the episodes, providing a much-needed mental break from the challenges of being hospitalized. For children confined to a hospital bed, the opportunity to escape into a world of fun and adventure can make all the difference. Wheels Up! offers this essential distraction, allowing young patients to focus on something joyful, even if only for a little while, and bringing a sense of normalcy back into their lives.
Soaring to New Heights
As we look to the future, Wheels Up! continues to soar to new heights. With the premiere of its ninth season, more children will have the opportunity to explore the world from their hospital rooms, bringing a sense of adventure and joy to their days. At Get Well, we’re thrilled to support this incredible program and make it accessible to even more pediatric patients through our platform.
For Get Well clients who want to learn more about Wheels Up! and how it can be implemented in your hospital, please visit the Get Well Connection Hub and reach out to your Client Success Manager. Together, we can bring the world to children in hospitals, one episode at a time.
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