CONCORD, N.C. – There’s nothing quite like seeing joy on a child’s face.
That’s why last week’s visit to Nationwide Children’s Hospital was so special to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his wife, Amy.
The couple traveled to Columbus, Ohio, along with Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick to visit with patients and see the newly dedicated Dale and Amy Earnhardt Activity Room, which was a wedding gift from Nationwide and the hospital.
“I had no words to thank Nationwide and the hospital for doing that when they showed me that several months ago – me and Amy both cried,” Earnhardt said. “But it’s great. It’s a fun room. It’s a room of joy and happiness. So, I was really amazed that that was what they wanted to do.”
In the video above, you can follow the Earnhardts through the hospital and take a behind-the-scenes look as they saw the activity room for the first time up close.
“I can’t believe for me and Amy that we’ll always be personally connected to this place in that way,” Earnhardt said. “We always want to be involved in helping the hospital, but to be connected in that way was really emotional for us.”
Earnhardt will pilot a special No. 88 Nationwide Children's Hospital Chevrolet SS this July at Kentucky Speedway. Fans have the chance to donate to put their name on the hood of the No. 88 Chevy and "Help Kids Everywhere."