Heartstrings Walk to Remember

By Rachel H

Did you know that infant loss touches the lives of more than one out of every four pregnant women? If you have not heard of Heartstrings, be sure to visit their website at www.heartstringssupport.org. Heartstrings Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support offers group and one-to-one peer support and encouragement to families who have lost a baby from conception to one year of age.

We would like to invite you to join over 500 families for A Walk to Remember on October 9, 2010. Heartstrings is hosting its 6th Annual A Walk to Remember for Bereaved Parents Across the Triad. The Walk will take place at Triad Park in Kernersville, N.C. Bereaved parents, their friends and caregivers whose lives have been touched by the tragic loss of a baby as a result of a pregnancy loss, stillbirth or newborn death will come together to publicly remember their babies and to spread awareness.

The event starts at 9:15 a.m. on October 9, 2010. There will be onsite registration as well as check-in for those preregistered. A Time of Remembrance follows at 10:00 a.m. The service includes keynote speaker Tracey Holyfield, a bereaved parent and founder of Heartstrings. The service concludes with a special ceremony where each family receives an ornament personalized with their baby’s name. The 1.5-mile walk will begin at 11 a.m.

If you, or someone you know would like to participate, you may register online at www.heartstringssupport.org. The registration fee is $25 for couples, $15 for individuals and $7 for children. The fee includes a Time of Remembrance program, a t-shirt and participation in the Walk. Teams are also welcome.

Along with the support and comfort extended to those participating, a goal of the Walk is to raise proceeds which will help support Heartstrings Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support.

President Ronald Reagan decreed October as National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in 1988. October 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. One in four pregnancies ends in a loss and another 46 babies die every day in the United States within the first 28 days of life from prematurity, congenital abnormalities, unknown causes or accidental death. You can help spread the word about local and national resources of hope and encouragement for bereaved parents.

If you have questions, or would like more information, please call Mary Easton at 336-335-9931.

Reminder: Don't forget to register for our September giveaway. You could be one of FIVE lucky readers to win a $20 gift card from Invitations Only. Just click here to register. Contest will end at noon on Friday, September 10. Good luck!

Posted by Triad Smarty Pants at 5:00 AM