Famed Escape Artist Michael Griffin Will Spend 52 hours in a Hospital Bed in National City Center to Demonstrate The Long Hours Children Spend in Hospitals

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Media Contact:
Kelly J. Wagner Amen
216-222-9514
kelly.wagneramen@nationalcity.com

NATIONAL CITY AND ADVENTURES FOR WISH KIDS TEAM UP TO PRESENT ‘ADVENTURE 52’ TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR CHILDREN WITH LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESSES

Famed Escape Artist Michael Griffin Will Spend 52 hours in a Hospital Bed in National City Center
to Demonstrate The Long Hours Children Spend in Hospitals


COLUMBUS, OHIO – April 4, 2006 – Master of escape Michael Griffin is renowned for his death defying feats, breaking free in record time from handcuffs, ropes, locks, leg irons and other constraints, even from sealed underwater containers. While Griffin’s artistry and skill cannot cure the life-threatening illnesses diagnosed each year in 12,000 U.S. children, they can go along way to bringing laughter, joy and entertainment to them when they need it most.

Griffin will do exactly that as part of Miracles & Magic 2006. Presented by National City, the family friendly grand-illusion, magic and comedy spectacular features national touring artists and proceeds support Adventures for Wish Kids, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to provide laughter to children diagnosed with terminal illnesses.

And there’s more. In an effort to raise awareness for the amount of time children spend in the hospital, Griffin will spend 52 hours in a hospital bed staged in the heart of National City Center. He is renowned for his death-defying escapes, but this time his feat will be to remain in one place, presenting “Adventure 52.” While Griffin conducts his act of awareness, representatives from National City and Miracles & Magic will be on hand to sell tickets and accept donations to help support Adventures for Wish Kids. The challenge will be open to the public during business hours.

“We are hopeful that the “Miracles & Magic Challenge” raises awareness about the loneliness and isolation so many of these children face,” said Jeffrey Damron, executive director of Adventures for Wish Kids. “Laughter is a gift that takes their minds off the illnesses they’re battling and allows them to do what is most natural – just be a kid. We look forward to a wonderful Miracles & Magic event on April 8. It is an event that not only raises money to support these children, but also gives them a break from the hospitals and medicine.”



“Michael Griffin will spend 52 long hours in a hospital bed, but in reality, this is only one-third of the average hospital stay for sick children,” said Kevin Sloan, executive vice president of National City Columbus retail banking. “We are hopeful that our friends and neighbors will join us to learn more about the ordeal so many courageous children overcome, and perhaps lend their support to this worthy cause.”

Miracles & Magic 2006
On April 8, National City presents Miracles & Magic 2006 at Capitol Theatre - Riffe Center,
featuring world-class entertainment suitable for all ages, including magicians, comedians and escape artists. Shows will be held at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and are open to the public. Tickets start at $12 and $15 each and are available at CAPA (614-469-0939) and all TICKETMASTER outlets (614-431-3600). Proceeds benefit Adventures for Wish Kids. Additional support is provided by Sunny 95, ABC/FOX TV Columbus, Hexion Specialty Chemicals, White Castle, The Nicole Wilcox Foundation and Insight Technology. Additional information is available at www.miraclesandmagic.com.

“This year’s event will be spectacular,” said Sloan. “We are thrilled to bring such amazing talent to Columbus, including the magic act Scott and Muriel, who have been named National Champions of Holland and are on their way to headline in Las Vegas at World’s Greatest Magic. We are honored that this will be their first performance in the United States, and they are joined by an illustrious cast of characters, including Michael Griffin, John Pets, Nels Cremean and Phillip Kaiser. National City is proud to help Miracles & Magic bring the world’s top comedy and magical talent to Columbus to benefit such amazing young people.”

About Adventures for Wish Kids
Adventures for Wish Kids is a not-for-profit organization that provides continuing support and lasting memories for children with life threatening illness and their families. The organization helps these children and their families by providing opportunities to: Network with other families with similar problems and find the best way to deal with them, support each other emotionally, escape their problems for a short time, and enjoy life in a more meaningful way. More information about Adventures for Wish Kids is available online at www.afwkids.org.

About Michael Griffin
Michael Griffin, who resides in Dublin, Ohio, is a two-time World Magic Award winning Master of Escape who has performed a diverse array of challenges over a notable two decades. His escapes are unique, one-of-a-kind, original and adrenaline-rush infused performances, setting milestones and breaking records. Some of his most notable achievements are escaping from a maximum-security jail cell, the ice-covered Ohio River, the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, and a solid steel hermetically sealed airtight casket with submarine style hatch locking the outside. He is also the only escape artist to ever attempt and survive a thirteen-knot Hangman’s Noose in 52 seconds and the only escape artist granted permission to reenact Houdini’s 1912 death-defying underwater crate escape. More information at: http://www.escapeguy.com

About National City
National City Corporation (NYSE: NCC), headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is one of the nation's largest financial holding companies. The company operates through an extensive banking network primarily in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri and Pennsylvania, and also serves customers in selected markets nationally. Its core businesses include commercial and retail banking, mortgage financing and servicing, consumer finance and asset management. For more information about National City, visit the company’s Web site at www.nationalcity.com.
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