Blimp
Visit
July
20, 1998
Richmond, Indiana
 For
two hospitalized youngsters, the SANYO blimp became an "up close
and personal" experience on the weekend of this year’s
Indianapolis 500 race. The blimp, visiting Indianapolis for the race,
was tethered at the nearby Mount Comfort Airport.
Billie Widgett, a
9-year-old girl who had received a stem cell transplantation, and Laura
Hubbard, a 12-year-old girl recently diagnosed with leukemia, and their
families were brought to the blimp from the Riley Hospital for Children
in Indianapolis at the invitation of SANYO-Verbatim CD Company. They got
on board, toured the gondola, and learned about the operation of the
airship from one of its pilots. Weather conditions prevented the blimp
from taking off.
"This outing
provided a positive experience at a time when there is a great deal of
stress in the families," said Mary Ann Underwood of Riley
Hospital’s Department of Pediatrics. "When so much happens that
separates members of the family from each other, the SANYO-Verbatim air
trip allowed the family to enjoy themselves."
Ross Josephson,
Manager of Internal Sales and Corporate Marketing at SANYO-Verbatim, met
the families at the airport. "The visit of the SANYO blimp allowed
us to reach out to the community," he said. "Helping these
children and their families have a good time is part of our wider effort
to be good neighbors."
To obtain further information on this
news release, contact Brian Klaine,
sales and marketing manager.
Phone: 800.704.7648
Fax: 765.935.0174
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