Martin Truex Jr. Foundation Children’s Emergency ribbon cutting

Aug. 11. On a hot August afternoon, Novant Health officially opened the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation Children’s Emergency Services at Huntersville Medical Center. The 5,000-square-foot facility will provide specialized treatment to children and teens in Lake Norman, where there was previously limited access.

It’s really cool.

It has a distinctly child-friendly environment, a family consultation room, advanced medical equipment specifically designed to treat children, a treatment room for minor injuries and a family-friendly waiting room with NASCAR-themed décor at child’s eye level.

Pricetag: $2.4 million.

Truex emergency service art is NASCAR themed at a child’s eye level

In addition to Martin Truex Jr. Foundation’s gift to the Novant Health Foundation, the $2.4 million project was supported by top donors including Auto-Owners Insurance; Ryan Blaney Family Foundation; Brad Keselowski’s Checkered Flag Foundation; Vincent, Lisa and Vinnie Dailey; Gene Haas Foundation; Joe Gibbs Racing; Denny Hamlin Foundation; Daniel and Traci Hughes; Kasey Kahne Foundation; Haven Kiley Foundation; Dennis and Mary Lehman; Joey Logano Foundation; Metrolina Greenhouses; Evernham Family-Racing for a Reason Foundation; Tyler Reddick; Sokal Media Group; James R. Vannoy & Sons Construction Co. Inc.; and Jerry & Frances Warsky Foundation.

Fixing the scary parts

Riley

Mike Riley, president of Huntersville Medical Center, said literally thousands of children come through the existing emergency department every year where they can interact with very sick adults. “It’s scary for a child,” he said, explaining that only about 5 percent of children who come through the emergency department are admitted.

“I’m eternally grateful for the Novant Health Foundation’s commitment to the community alongside our partnership with the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation, allowing us to provide an environment specifically designed for kids,” Riley said.

Background

Truex competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series driving the No. 19 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing. He is the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion and a two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion.

He grew up around stock car racing. His father, Martin Truex Sr., raced in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series in the 1990s.

“We are excited to officially open the doors to the MTJ Foundation children’s emergency department in Huntersville. There is a real need for pediatric emergency care in the Lake Norman area and we are fortunate to have the support of many donors and the NASCAR community to make this dream a reality,” Truex Jr. said.

Sherry Pollex and Martin Truex Jr. / Truex Foundation photo

The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation Children’s Emergency Services center is staffed with doctors and nurses specializing in pediatric care. The team will also include a child life specialist who will work to support the needs of children, teens and their families. Child life specialists aim to reduce the stress and trauma sometimes accompanied by the clinical setting. Stress and trauma can affect the health, development and well-being of children in the long term, making child life specialists’ jobs essential to the clinical setting.