Moms and babies. Not many more combinations go together more naturally than that. So it was a beautifully symbiotic pairing when the Forzani Group Foundation decided to funnel the proceeds from their annual Mother’s Day Run & Walk towards Calgary’s Special Care Nurseries and Neonatal Intensive Care back in 2006.
As many of you know from previous posts, 2006 was also the inaugural year of Team Peyton—a dedicated team of our friends and family who continue to honour us, this great cause, and our baby girl Peyton Olivia, who unexpectedly passed away January 15 of the same year.
Since 2006, the MD Run & Walk has raised nearly $1,000,000 towards neonatal care, ensuring vital technology and equipment is available for the city’s most fragile of patients. (Team Peyton has proudly raised more than $31,000 since our first run.)
It was with this in mind that the members of Team Peyton—and nearly 15,000 other participants—braved the early Sunday morning snow (yes, snow), and walked, ran, and tried to stay warm during what has become a Calgary Mother’s Day tradition.
Making promises to run again this year (I even registered for the 5km), I decided to walk instead at the last minute, enjoying the company and conversation of friends and family that decided to walk as well. (While I tried to use the excuse of my wagon-bound three-year-old, grandparents made sure that I barely touched said wagon during most of the 5km walk. There is always next year…)
While the day was a cool and wet one, it reminded me once again of how much love there is in this city. Love for moms, babies, friends and family. Love of community, and of being able to collectively participate in something good.
Until next year, much love and thanks to everyone (and Mother Nature) that made this yet another one to remember.
*Special thanks to Frilly Lilly McKenzie Towne for donating a lovely product basket that was awarded to two of Team Peyton's top fundraisers.
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