A local group is taking steps to raise money and awareness for young hospital patients over four thousand miles away.
The Children Have Dreams Too organization marched through Astoria Park Sunday. Walkers are raising money to purchase a ventilator for Kantrida Children's Hospital in Croatia. The group was founded to show young Croatian hospital patients that they aren't alone.
Organizer Ivan Butkovic says he was a patient at the children's hospital back in the 1980’s.
Now he wants kids there to know that there isn't anything holding them back.
"These kids, if they'd like to be doctors, scientists, being in a hospital and being sick does not mean that you cannot achieve what they always wanted to achieve,” said Butkovic.
"It's just important to keep others in mind outside, you know, us here in New York where we are very lucky that we have many hospitals with many resources,” said Julie Butkovic, of Children Have Dreams Too.
To learn more, head to facebook.com/childrenhavedreamstoo