Local teen heart patient seeks art-lover attendees for auction of more than 93 works to raise funds for Duke Children’s Hospital

Micheal Jordan and George Pocheptsov.

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, N.C.— Hanna Christian (age 17), a local soccer player and artist, is seeking art lovers to attend Art To Heart '08, an event to raise funds for Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center, Durham, N.C., and to bring recognition to Wolfe Parkinson White Syndrome (WPW). The event is also accepting monetary donations to help cover event expenses.

To date, 93 artists have donated their work to this cause including a Michael Jordan signed piece by George Pocheptsov, and works by Deborah Cavenaugh, Billy Cone, Hiroshi Sueyoshi, Dick Roberts, Stephanie Come-Ryker and Deborah Dorsey. Current sponsors include The Jessica R. Watson Foundation, Star-News, Capital Strategies, Dockside, Sonny B., Stevenson Automotive, Haircolorxperts, Roudabush Room, The Balcony On Dock Street, Expressions, Blackbeard’s Bryde, Poodle’s Island Wear, Beanie + Cecil and Fincannon & Associates. Kamran Goudarzi of Hardwire Tattoo designed the event logo, and D.C. North will be the art auctioneer.

Hanna Christian underwent heart surgery at Duke Children's Hospital last Dec.

In the past year, Hanna was diagnosed with WPW, a syndrome of pre-excitation of the heart ventricles due to an accessory pathway known as the bundle of Kent. This accessory pathway is an abnormal electrical communication from the atria to the ventricles, which in turn causes the heart to race at a dangerous speed.  WPW is relatively unknown to the general population.  In short, after much examination, Hanna underwent a heart procedure at Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center in December to correct the situation. She is finally living free of pain, and her heart now beats normally.

In appreciation of Duke Children's Hospital, Hanna, in association with her sister Emily and a team of volunteers including Jordan Croom, Emlyn Dunn, Michael Cutts and Tracy Manning, is holding a large art auction at 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, November 7, 2008, at The Balcony On Dock Street, in Wilmington, N.C. The event will consist of a silent and live auction, as well as live music, lavish hors d'oeuvres and cash bar. Attire will be dressy casual.  All proceeds from the art auction and ticket sales will go to Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center.

Please save the date, Friday, November 7, 2008, to attend Art To Heart '08.
Tickets are $20 each at the door on the night of the event.

Hanna Christian
Founder & President
910.547.4067