Thank you so much to everyone who supported our family and everyone who is a part of Team Caring Connection on Sunday and in the days leading up to the Running for Hope 5k Run/Fun Walk benefiting Advocate Children’s Hospital (including their Bereavement Program) and our local Ronald McDonald House! It was a cold and overcast morning, but our hearts were warm and filled with so much love as we “ran/walked for hope and to remember our babies.”
The picture above was taken before the race began. This is a little over half of our team of 55 who were there on Sunday, as not everyone was able to make it to the park, where we gathered before the 5K, in time for our group photo at 7:30 a.m. We did try to connect with and get photos of everyone who participated throughout the morning — before, during and after the race.
In addition to the 55 people who ran, walked or supported our team from the sidelines, there are just as many who donated and/or ordered Team Caring Connection shirts who were with us in spirit. Being our first time participating in this event, we learned a lot that we will keep in mind for the future.
It was also special for Bob, Sean, Abby (in her jogging stroller) and me to run the 5K as a family, something we haven’t done together before. Sean and I have run in races, but it was Bob’s first time, as well as Abby’s, and it meant a lot have them both there with us!
Many thanks to our family, friends and all those who participated in the Running for Hope 5K Run/Walk and/or donated to this worthy cause in honor and memory of our Molly and Babies Benson!
I am proud to share that our family raised $2,294* and our team raised $3,389!
Your support and generosity means so much to us!
In addition to monetary donations, one of our family member’s good friends, who is part of a knitting circle, organized her group to make 71 beautiful hats, of varying sizes, to fit the heads of young children or babies who are very sick and/or those who die before or soon after they are born. Our family member, who also fundraised and ran with our team on Sunday, brought the hats (pictured below) for Team Caring Connection to donate to Advocate Christ Medical Center and Children’s Hospital.
We are so moved by this labor of love and know that so many families will appreciate having these hand-knit hats for their babies to wear, and in some case be buried with, during such a bittersweet time in their lives. A family friend knit a special hat like this for Molly, that she was buried in, which meant a lot to our family.
Running for Hope (and Remembering Our Babies) was a truly awesome experience and Team Caring Connection looks forward to doing it again next year! For those interested in joining our team in 2014, we will certainly keep you in the loop and be in touch closer to the time. The legacies of Molly, Babies Benson and all the babies who have left this world too soon live on and we have definitely felt their love from above on our journey with Team Caring Connection.
Thank you again for your support and generosity!
Love,
Kathy, Bob, Sean and Abby
with Molly and Babies Benson in Our Hearts ♥
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*Some of the donations made in honor of Molly and Babies Benson didn’t make it directly to our fundraising page, but the money is still going to the same place ultimately and we want to recognize all of our family and friends who have contributed in the total. We are so grateful for your support!
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What an amazing achievement and what an incredible turnout for your team. The knitted hats are so beautiful and wonderful.
Big kudos to you and all your friends and family.
Jjiraffe recently posted..The Big Reveal
What a wonderful achievement, Kathy! Congratulations!
I attended a birth yesterday at work (a routine part of my job) where we weren’t sure if the baby was 23 weeks or 25 weeks along (no prenatal care). The difference is massive in terms of morbidity and mortality- if a baby is born at 23 weeks, no resuscitation is typically even attempted. At 25 weeks, though, the survival rate is considerably better. To make a long story short, the baby was born, and we realized the baby was actually closer to the 23 week mark, therefore, there was no attempt made to save this baby. And while I know that this is standard practice, it affects me terribly every time. It’s so rough when you really do understand what the parents are going through.I held it together until I got to my car… then the tears came.
I guess I’m telling you this because reading this post today really lifted my spirits. So thank you! I really admire that you have been able to turn an awful experience into something positive. Congrats again to you and your family- you should be very proud!
Catwoman73 recently posted..Thankful Thursday, Week 12!
Congratulations on your success in getting this incredible team together and raising money for this important cause. Well done! The knitted hats are adorable and so many will be thankful for receiving them.