For the Young family – five-year-old twins Conor and Liam and their parents Kate and Randy – taking part in Denver’s 12th Annual Great Candy Run, which benefits the Fetal Health Foundation (FHF), is very important. They know first-hand that FHF is a real life-saver.
In 2009, the happiness Kate and Randy experienced while awaiting the birth of their boys turned to fear when 20 weeks into the pregnancy they learned the babies had twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), with one not getting enough blood and nutrients while the other was getting too much. The parents-to-be were told nothing could be done to save their sons. Luckily, their search to discover all they could about TTTS led them to the Fetal Health Foundation (www.fetalhealthfoundation.org), the Littleton, Colo.-based nonprofit that leads the way in supporting families and medical treatment centers dealing with intrauterine fetal syndromes.
[blockquote name=””]“The Fetal Health Foundation was there in our darkest hour to give us hope that anything is possible,” said Kate. “Contacting them was a huge turning point for us. They gave us the help we needed to find the right doctors.” [/blockquote]
The grateful mother, who used to run marathons and compete in triathlons before the arrival of the twins, is committed to collecting funds to give help – and hope – to other families dealing with fetal syndromes. On September 20, Kate participated in her first Half Ironman – a 1.2 mile swim, 56-mile mile bike ride and 13.1 mile run – at Lake T
ahoe and raised $1,300 for FHF. She also created a Crowd Rise page, “Paying It Forward for Fetal Hope,” to spread the word about the national nonprofit and its work (https://www.crowdrise.com/PayingitForwardforFetalHope/fundraiser/katherineyoung2). Kate continues to collect FHF donations at that site.
Whether or not your family or someone you know has been impacted by a fetal syndrome, come and join the thousands of runners and walkers at the Great Candy Run on Sunday, November 8 in Denver’s Washington Park. Presented by The Colorado Institute for Maternal and Fetal Health, it’s a fun-filled event for all ages. In addition to the 5K Run/Walk, including a competitive Stroller Division, there will be a free Coda Coffee Gumdrop Kids Fun Run, Hammond’s Candy Station, costume contest, prize money, medals for all finishers, on-course entertainment, celebrity appearances by local mascots, post-race expo area, and, of course, plenty of sweet treats.
For event details and registration, visit https://thegreatcandyrun.com/?event=denver.