On  Friday at 4  p.m., Halifax Regional will join thousands of communities throughout North Carolina and the nation in recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month with a pinwheel garden.

The pinwheel is the new symbol of child abuse prevention, representing community efforts to provide children with the safe, stable, nurturing relationships they need for healthy development. Girl Scouts of America troops #60, #3023 and #4148 will each plant a pinwheel at the hospital to represent the successful future they look forward to.

Elijah Lee, an 11-year old child abuse awareness advocate, will be the keynote speaker at the event.  

Dr. Valliani, chief of pediatrics at Halifax Regional, and Will Mahone, president and CEO, will also join families and children to plant pinwheels in the Annex courtyard at Halifax Regional.

"Healthy child development is the foundation for community and economic development," said Amy Joseph, Birthing Center manager. "The pinwheels represent our hope that all of the children in our community have the stable, loving relationships they need to become successful adults who contribute to our community."