Joe DiMaggio himself would have smiled at the scene.

More than 4,000 people gathered at Miramar Regional Park to ride, run, walk, or play at the Tour de Broward, an annual event that raises money for pediatric services and programs at the children’s hospital that bears DiMaggio’s name in Hollywood.

It was the ‘Yankee Clipper’ who said, “No child shall ever be turned away because of a parent’s inability to pay.”

Participants, sponsors and donors raised nearly $400,000 for the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation. The funds directly impact some of the nearly 70,000 kids that required outpatient visits, admissions or surgery last year from the leading children’s hospital in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

“The South Florida community has really embraced Tour de Broward and made it more than just a fundraiser,” said Frank Sacco, President and CEO of Memorial Healthcare System. “It’s become a celebration of health and wellness, with inspiration embodied in many who participate.”

Moise Brutus, a 25-year-old college student from North Miami, rode the 50K (31 miles) cycling challenge. Brutus currently attends Marian University in Indiana, but returned for the event, in part to thank those who helped him at the Memorial Rehabilitation Institute after a 2010 motorcycle accident that cost him both legs and part of his left arm. “Sometimes life knocks you down, but you have to get up. I just happened to get up without legs. If I’m an example of someone who didn’t give up, I certainly didn’t do it without help,” said Brutus.

Tour de Broward also offered a 100K cycling challenge, 5K run, 3K walk, and the Power of Play Kid’s Zone. Former heart patient Johnny Pastorius, 10, of Pompano Beach was one of the runners who finished the 3.1 mile course. It was the third time he’s run the event, the first coming just eight months after undergoing a procedure at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital to patch a hole in his heart. Pastorius, who beat his dad’s time by nearly five minutes, ran shirtless with “6-4-2012, Open Heart Surgery, JDCH” written in marker on his chest and back.

With this year’s total, the event has now raised more than $2 million in its six-year history. Funds have previously supported the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Heart Institute, which houses one of the two pediatric heart transplant programs in South Florida, and the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, which improves the lives of oncology patients and families.

To see photos, read inspirational stories, or make a donation, visit www.tourdebroward.com.

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