News Room

At the outset of the summer, 13-year-old Nate Winslow of Cape Cod issued Nate's Challenge, urging 1,500 other young people and their families to join Generation Cures and make a difference for other kids. Since that time, a groundswell of support has emerged for Nate's cause as kids, companies and high-profile celebrities have enthusiastically answered Nate's Challenge and demonstrated the positive impact one young person can have on the world.

• Hundreds of cause-minded kids have answered Nate's Challenge and registered to become members of the Generation Cures community since Nate announced his goal to recruit 1,500 new Generation Cures families by the end of September.
• Celebrities, including fashion designer Nicky Hilton, reality TV star Khloe Kardashian, celebrity DJ Charlotte Ronson and "Heroes" series regular Greg Grunberg, have answered Nate's Challenge by taking to Twitter to tweet about Nate's mission and spread the word about Generation Cures.
• Game developer Harmonix has answered Nate's Challenge with a pledge to generously donate 100 copies of Rock Band 2 to patients of Children's Hospital Boston. And starting today, the first 100 kids who respond to Nate's call to register on the Generation Cures site by September 30th will also receive a free copy of Rock Band 2. Kids can sign up at http://kids.generationcures.org/nates-challenge.
• The New England Revolution soccer team will honor five outstanding young people who rise to Nate's Challenge and actively raise funds for Generation Cures in September. The top five Generation Cures kid fundraisers between now and September 30th will each receive two tickets to a select Revolution game, including luxury box seats, an on-field visit to the bench and an opportunity to meet Taylor Twellman. Kids can start fundraising at http://kids.generationcures.org/give.

Nate Winslow, a 13-year-old Cape Codder, has battled scoliosis with the same fearlessness he exhibits when he plays his favorite sports, including hockey, lacrosse and snowboarding. His worsening condition, however, made it difficult to lead the life of a normal, active kid. After a successful and groundbreaking procedure at Children's Hospital Boston called vertebral stapling in late 2007, the curve in his spine has vastly improved and he has been able to resume the sporting life with passion. So much so, that earlier this year he shattered his heel in a snowboarding accident and found himself back at Children's where doctors operated on his foot, using a special plate and eight screws to repair his left heel.

Nate has supported the hospital in the past by raising funds and participating in the NStar Walk for Children's. When he learned of the hospital's free online community for kids called Generation Cures, he knew it provided a great opportunity for him to drum up support for a hospital that literally changed his life.

"I started 'Nate's Challenge' because I want kids out there to know that Generation Cures is a cool website where they can play games, watch videos and lots of other fun stuff, and by becoming members they can show their support for Children's Hospital Boston," said Nate. "Sometimes kids don't realize that they have the power to make a difference and Generation Cures is a fun way for them to show they care. Every day we are getting closer to achieving my goal of recruiting 1,500 new members by September 30th, and it's amazing that cool companies, sports stars and celebrities are helping us make it happen."

Kids can go to the Generation Cures website to get information and join Nate's Challenge. The site is free to join for all members.

Nate launched his challenge in early July to get 1,500 kids and their parents to join the online community for kids by the end of September. Nate chose the number 1,500 because it represents 100 families for each of the seven staples and eight screws that have been surgically implanted into his spine and foot over the last two years. While the site is free to join, kids can ask parents to sponsor their game play on the site and those sponsor dollars go to support pediatric research at Children's.

Contact:
Julie Murphy, CXO Communication
617-756-8611
Julie@cxocommunication.com

Generation Cures is a revolutionary philanthropic movement that teaches tweens to use their powers for good. The Generation Cures website offers free games, videos, music, webisodes and creativity challenges that inspire kids to care about others and want to make a difference in the world. Tweens can then turn their inspiration into action to help cure other kids through online and offline family fundraising initiatives that support Children's Hospital Boston's life-saving pediatric research. Since launching in late 2008, Generation Cures has won more than 20 national awards for creativity, education and family fun and was named the Mom's Choice Awards "Website of the Year."

Children's Hospital Boston is a leading source of life-saving treatments, groundbreaking research and compassionate care for children in New England and worldwide. In its annual "America's Best Hospitals" issue, U.S. News and World Report has rated Children's Hospital Boston one of the top two children's hospitals for 19 consecutive years. Children's Hospital Boston has the largest and most active research program at a children's medical center.