SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Dairy Queens across the country are bracing for long lines as July 31 marks Miracle Treat Day. The annual event donates a portion of Blizzard sales to local children’s hospitals, including Sanford Children’s in Sioux Falls.
Levi and his mom, Michelle Baartman, stopped by the Dairy Queen on 57th Street to support a cause that’s close to their family.
“Levi had just turned one and we received a cancer diagnosis,” Baartman said.
In 2021, Levi spent seven months at Sanford Children’s Castle undergoing treatment. His mom says the efforts made through the Children’s Miracle Network made a huge impact.
“People would come into the room and support him when he was being poked and prodded. The child life people that came in and just helped him through the hard times, helped me through the hard times, helped our family be a family unit,” Baartman said.
But despite his lengthy hospital stay, Levi remained strong.
“You would have never known that he was going through anything. He’s always been a people person. He loves to talk to people. He says hi to anybody that we come across,” Baartman said.
No matter how many Blizzards are sold, staff at Dairy Queen want people to know the impact even a few can have.
“If we just have four coupons or four blizzards, that’s a meal voucher for a family at the hospital. So just even four is a massive impact on people so we love that,” Dairy Queen district manager, Isaac Haase said.
“It might seem like a such a simple little thing, but it impacts in such a major way. This day is huge,” Baartman said.
Currently, Levi is in remission and is set to start kindergarten this fall.
Dairy Queen has partnered with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals for 41 years and has raised more than $185 million for local hospitals across the country.
