Running may seem like an individual sport, but Team Hemby continues to prove it’s something much bigger. Each mile run and every dollar raised helps Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital provide the best possible care to its youngest patients and their families. Through the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon, runners like Myles Wynn are leading a movement that proves running really can change lives.
When his family moved to Charlotte, Wynn told us they knew they wanted to get involved in the community. His wife joined the board of the Novant Health Foundation, which is how he learned about Team Hemby and ran the Novant Health Charlotte half marathon.
“It was amazing, just the coolest experience,” he told us. “Now I’ve got a bunch of my friends who have joined in, and one of them is actually tour in the hospital right now!”
Novant Health Foundation Philanthropy Manager Dani Smith says those fundraising miles are building critical care capacity that saves lives. “These funds are helping us create an intermediate care unit that bridges the gap between the PICU and the hospital’s general unit. This space will help limit readmissions and improve outcomes for our kids,” she explains. It’s a tangible difference Charlotte runners help make each year through the marathon.
For Betsy Zarzour, Team Hemby’s coordinator, the joy lies in connecting purpose to pavement. “Making our miles meaningful and supporting children in the Charlotte area has been such a joy,” she says. “With every race, we’re expanding care — adding NICU beds, building new transition units, and providing more support for families in need.”
Few understand that purpose better than Myles Wynn, who brings the energy of a marathoner and the heart of a dad who’s been there. His son Luke was just a month old when a respiratory virus turned to pneumonia, sending him into intensive care. “It was terrifying — we didn’t know if he’d make it,” Myles recalls. “Seeing those doctors and nurses in action showed me what real heroes look like”. When his family later returned to Charlotte, joining Team Hemby felt like more than a fit — it was a mission.
Wynn’s goal is lofty: helping Team Hemby grow its fundraising to over a million dollars in the coming years. “I know it sounds big, but I’ve seen what’s possible,” he says, referencing his past experience running for Dana-Farber’s Boston Marathon team. “They give runners the fundraising playbook — stories, templates, everything. I’m wanting us build that same kind of system here so we can empower more runners to make a difference.”
He’s not just talking about running, either. Wynn’s car is filled with Hemby bracelets and stickers his daughters hand out at school. “They’re all in — just like me,” he laughs. “It’s amazing to see how proud they are.” Balancing a full career, marathon training, and fatherhood isn’t easy, but Wynn says it’s worth every early morning. “I get up at four to run. It clears my head and fills my cup. After visiting Hemby or seeing a kid walk in for chemo, you realize — you have no problems.”
For Wynn and his teammates, Team Hemby is more than a charity team — it’s a movement powered by gratitude and grit. “Charlotte’s growing fast,” he says. “We need to grow right along with it, so families get the care they deserve.”
It’s not too late to learn more or join Team Hemby as a fundraiser this season. In fact, you don’t even have to run! Learn more about it right here: https://thecharlottemarathon.com/team-hemby/
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