Be Not Afraid

Saturday, October 18, 2011

Be Not Afraid ... to try something new,
                           to push yourself to do just a bit more,
                            to support an charitable organization by that name.

Well, this morning we fulfilled all of these challenges. Ken and I participated in our very first 5 K which required us to walk as fast as we could further than either of us is use to doing, and in the process helped to raise funds and awareness for the organization Be Not Afraid which supported our daughter throughout her pregnancy back in 2010 when the first ultrasound revealed that her third son and our tenth grandchild had Trisomy 18 and thus was given little chance for survival after birth.

This run/walk for life, love and hope began three years ago when our daughter decided to put it together to help raise funds for the group that she was now deeply involved in.  Little Aidan Donan's footprints are on the T-shirts given to each runner

and they show up on much of the literature.  This is truly a memorial to him that helps others who find themselves faced with similar heart wrenching moments in the days and years to come.

Our son Dan, his wife Jen and their three girls Abbi, Rachel, and Noelle drove down from Pennsylvania to share this time with Sue and her family, as did we.  We had some great family time participating in the event and over the rest of the weekend.

Rachel came prepared with special fingernail polish that spelled out Be Not Afraid.....

Jen volunteered to help check people in

We all put on our special shirts and attached our runner numbers in preparation for the event.

Then we were off....

Most running but some walking at a brisk pace including moms with babies,

Some were so fast they were returning before others of us had even made it half way (including our grandson Reilly)

We traveled through the woods (Ken is coming back up a hill)

along winding paths (this is Noelle)

Here is Sue who not only organized and ran the entire race but ran as well

We went past people holding encouraging signs

and others passing out water

The end of the race brought us back to the same flagged area that we took off from 

At the shelter area there was a huge sign that people could write on sending love to their lost babies

water bottles, bagels, cake and sliced oranges awaited runners as they returned

and pink and blue balloons were handed out for writing messages on 

That were then launched

Then medals were awarded to those who placed first in their age group

Here is Dan getting his - Sue is announcing and Tim is putting them on the runners

Five members of our family group got medals: Dan, Rachel, Ken and I and Sue (Ken and I were the only ones in our age group so that was a easy win :-)

What a fantastic day!!