Hip Hop Legend Darryl McDaniels of Run-D.M.C. Visits with Young Patients at St. Mary’s Hospital for Children

Hip Hop pioneer and founding member of the legendary group Run-D.M.C., made his way over to St. Mary’s Hospital for Children’s Bayside campus to spend time with some of New York’s most seriously ill and injured children battling complex medical and life-limiting conditions.

Queens born Darryl McDaniels personally met with all the children of St. Mary’s, taking pictures, answering questions, signing autographs, and just having a great time with patients. It was a once in a lifetime experience for St. Mary’s Kids and they were so grateful to have met a hip hop hero.

The artist first learned about St. Mary’s through his relationship with New York City’s renowned Hard Rock Cafe and was inspired to visit and meet all the courageous children he kept hearing about. Hard Rock Cafe has been committed to supporting St. Mary’s Kids and the “We Believe in Music Campaign” an initiative to build a music environment in St. Mary’s New Patient Pavilion, all set to unveil in Fall 2012.

Partnering with Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, earlier this year, St. Mary’s launched the music campaign and is transforming the Children’s Activity Center in St. Mary’s New Patient Pavilion into a music-themed space with a recording studio, DJ booth, iPod download station, karaoke, music memorabilia, and much more- all to help St. Mary’s Kids heal and thrive.

McDaniels took the opportunity to tour the site of the New Patient Pavilion and music environment.

Run-D.M.C was one of the most well-known hip hop groups in the 1980’s and their new school style hip hop signified the beginning of a new era. In 2007 Run D.M.C. was named “The Greatest Hip Hop Groups of All Time,” by MTV.com and “Greatest Hip Hop Artist of all Time” by VHI1.  In 2009 the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, only the second hip hop group in history to be inducted, after Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.