While so many families will flock to this year’s The Great Candy Run (formerly known as the Race for Fetal Hope), the event is sweet in more ways than the obvious. As a beneficiary event of the Fetal Health Foundation, a national foundation that supports families when their babies are diagnosed with intrauterine fetal syndromes, families use the event to celebrate and honor those lost and those who survived the journey.
One such local family is Jennifer and Chris Rabe, who celebrate their survivor, Barrett. Though just a little over one year old, Barrett has had more surgeries than some adults will have in their lifetime. He is a survivor of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), a congenital heart defect where the left side does not develop completely and for which there is no known cause. HLHS is one of the many syndromes that Fetal Health supports through information for families and funding for research.
[blockquote name=””]“The event raises much needed support money for families just like the Rabe’s, as the costs involved with getting to the facilities can be such a burden and financial hardship for most families,” said Lonnie Somers, CEO & Founder of Fetal Health. “We are honored to have many of these families involved with the day’s events in helping us raise important awareness and funds for fetal syndromes that sadly take the lives of 200 babies every day in the United States.”[/blockquote]
Now in it’s 10th year, The Great Candy Run Denver will take place on November 10, 2013 at Washington Park. Presented by The Colorado Institute for Maternal and Fetal Health in conjunction with the University of Colorado Hospital, Children’s Hospital Colorado, and the University of Colorado School of Medicine, this event will draw a crowd of more than 3,400 people, including many families from out of town.
All proceeds from The Great Candy Run benefit the Fetal Health Foundation in its continued efforts to support the research of treating and curing intrauterine fetal syndromes at fetal centers around the country. To learn more on the Foundation’s mission and how it serves as a liaison between families and care providers, visit www.fetalhope.org.