Kristyn was one of my roommates in college who I went to high school with as well. This means a lot to her and please come if you can:)
This is article published in the Register.
OC Walk To Remember
What: Honors local children lost to stillbirth, infant death and pregnancy loss.
Founded by Kristyn von Rotz of Orange and Lyndsey McLaughlin of Irvine – both lost babies.
Von Rotz gave birth to her baby, Joseph Thomas, at 23 weeks on July 8, 2004. He had a brain abnomality and only lived for a minute. Still she and her husband were able to hold him in their arms.
She and McLaughlin came up with the walk as a place to give parents an opportunity to remember their baby.
"It's difficult when you lose a baby," von Rotz said. "Family and friends never get to hold and see the baby. It's difficult for them to understand your grief. The walk is a safe place for parents to remember and celelbrate their child. Parents bring photos and make signs. It's a wonderful opportunity to share memories of our babies and to share their life, no matter how long or short, with family, friends, and other parents who have experienced a similar loss."
Von Rotz said while parents of living babies can throw birthday parties, those who have lost a child only have a gravesite or an urn with ashes.
"The walk is the one day a year where families can celebrate their child," she said.
Von rotz --since her tragedy -- has had two children: Leah, 3 and Evan 1.
Last years walk raised $13,000. So far this year, von Rotz and McLaughlin have raised $35,000.
Event: The 5K, at UC Irvine begins with a memorial service where more than 60 baby's names will be read. Money raised from the event benefits support groups and hospitals to help parents who have lost babies. These include St. Joseph's Perinatal Hospice Program. The Guild for Infant Survival Orange County, CHOC , St. Jude Medical Center, UCI Medical Center, Saddleback Memorial Hospital, Anaheim Memorial and Hoag Hospital.
Join the walk: Saturday, October 11, 2008
Where: University of California, Irvine
Time: 8 a.m. registration; 9:30 a.m. remembrance; 9:45 a.m. 5K walk
To sign up: Go to www.ocwalktoremember.org
Proceeds: Help provide grief counseling and memory boxes so parents can have footprint kits, photos and other items to remember their babies.
Donations: Please send checks to OC Walk to Remember, P.O. Box 2131, Orange, CA 92859 or go to the Web site. For information on corporate donations or if you would like to volunteer for the walk, please email: info@OCWalkToRemember.org
Contact the writer: eritchie@ocregister.com
