Atkinson, Force Network Fund deliver more than $40,000 to fight COVID-19

The number is in -- and it's no surprise it ends in 13.

Blue Jackets winger Cam Atkinson took part in a check presentation Wednesday at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, presenting a grand total of $40,313 to the OhioHealth Foundation that will help the hospital where his two children were born procure a rapid-response COVID-19 testing device.

The funds were raised as part of the Force Network Fund 5K, a virtual race held in June and staged by the charitable organization founded by Atkinson and his uncle that gives back to first responder charities.

In today's world, nothing is more at the forefront of community health and safety than the spread of the coronavirus, and Atkinson's desire to help out the hospital led to the establishment of the race and Wednesday's presentation.

"It was just a no-brainer," Atkinson previously told BlueJackets.com. "We knew that we wanted to give back something related to COVID, especially with all the health-care workers, nurses and doctors that are on the front lines putting their health at risk, their lives at risk in order to keep all of us safe and healthy.

"My wife gave birth to both of our boys at Riverside, so it's something that touches home. We'll have this state-of-the-art equipment that is going to give Riverside the chance for quick, accurate results, which has been the biggest issue. People go and wait in line and they don't get their test results back for a couple of days. This, you go in and get tested and you'll get your results the same day, typically within an hour and a half."

Atkinson and Mark Gernert of the Force Network Fund spent around half an hour at the hospital Wednesday meeting with representatives including hospital president Rob Cercek and Chris DeCapua, the owner of Dawson Recruiting and a member of Riverside's development board.

A grand total of 656 participants including many of Atkinson's CBJ teammates took part in the 5K held from June 4-7, and racers could take part anywhere they wanted and run, walk or rollerblade to travel the more than three miles. There were also almost 300 donors who chipped in, with all proceeds raised from the event going to Riverside.

"This is perfect," Cercek said after the ceremony. "We're not for profit. With the economy shut down and us not being able to do surgeries, having funding to help us pay for machines like this is ideal. It also shows the community support. That really says a lot. Cam is a young guy, and for him to say I want to support the community as it battles COVID, that says a lot about his mind-set and that's pretty cool."

Cercek added that the platform the money will go toward purchasing will be able to be used to test for other things once the COVID-19 pandemic comes to an end.