Children's of Alabama's Boots & BBQ Barn Bash Fundraiser Benefits one of the Largest Pediatric Rheumatology Programs in the U.S.

MOBILE – Children’s of Alabama’s Boots & BBQ Barn Bash kicks off Sunday, October 24, to benefit
the Children’s of Alabama Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic in Mobile. Guests are invited to enjoy an evening of
live music, costume contests and dinner provided by Moe’s Original BBQ at O’Daly’s Irish Pub located at 562
Dauphin Street.

Festivities start at 6:30 p.m., with spinning by DJ Micaiah and award-winning barbecue for dinner. Outdoors
and socially distanced, this event will take COVID-19 precautions and will be pet friendly. With a Halloween
twist on the event this year, guests are encouraged to dress in their best costumes, as prizes for best costume
and best pet costume will be given out at the end of the night. Guests are invited to come out to support a
great cause for local children suffering from autoimmune disorders.

The Boots & BBQ Barn Bash is presented by Children’s of Alabama and Rheum4y’AL, an advocacy group that
works with children across Alabama suffering from juvenile arthritis. This year’s event honors Mary Carlton
Johnson of Mobile. Johnson was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis at the age of two. Her family
remains hopeful for a cure and works closely with the Rheum4y’AL advocacy group.

Proceeds from the Boots & BBQ Barn Bash will provide funding for pediatric rheumatologist Dr. Melissa
Mannion to hold clinic in Mobile to treat the many children along the Gulf Coast suffering from autoimmune
disorders such as pediatric rheumatoid arthritis. Currently, these children must travel four hours to
Birmingham for treatment.

The Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic at Children’s of Alabama diagnoses and treats children with autoimmune
disorders including juvenile arthritis, lupus, myositis, scleroderma and various vasculitides. Clinical research
aims to optimize the treatment of juvenile arthritis through diverse projects and depends on fundraisers like
the Boots & BBQ Barn Bash to make this possible. For sponsorship information, please contact Kerrie Benson,
the Gulf Coast coordinator for Children’s of Alabama, at Kerrie.Benson@childrensal.org or 251-610-4969.
Admission is $40 per person. To register online, visit http://give.childrensal.org/barnbash. Further updates
can also be found on the event’s Facebook page.