Missing GRACE Foundation Announces Activities and Schedule of Annual Run

Sept. 12, 2011 - PRLog -- Missing GRACE Foundation, a nonprofit organization working to change lives affected by pregnancy and infant loss and to support preventative research, today announced they have many new activities planned for their Sixth Annual Kaila & Grace's Hope & Hearts Run (www.hopeandheartsrun.org). The run is scheduled for Saturday, September 17, 2011 at Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park and is in place to honor the babies who have died and to help save the lives of future babies.

The activities this year include:
•   5K Timed Run
•   Memorial Walk
•   Kids’ Fun Dash
•   “Hope Rocks” Carnival
•   Petting Zoo
•   Photo Opportunities with Goldy Gopher
•   Photo Opportunities with the Viking Cheerleaders
•   Live Band throughout the Day (One Accord)
•   Vendor booths
•   Complimentary food including coffee (Caribou), baked goods (Breadsmith), and much more
•   The Memorial Wall
•   “Hearts to Heaven” Memorial Balloon Release
And, Dawn Stevens from Fox 9 News is the event Emcee.
Race day on-site registration begins at 7:00 a.m. followed by the Kids’ Fun Dash at 8:30 a.m., 5K Timed Run at 9:00 a.m. and the Memorial Walk to follow at 9:15 a.m. Cost to participate is $25 for adults and $8 for kids prior to 9/15/11 ($30/$10 for onsite).
“The Minnesota Hope & Hearts event only comes around once a year and our Core Team works heart and soul throughout the year in preparation to make it a memorable and exhilarating day for all who attend.” stated Candy McVicar, the founder of Missing GRACE. “Certainly the families affected by a loss are drawn to attend, we just hope to also reach others in the community who will just come out to have a fun day and help us raise money for a great cause.”
All proceeds from the event will go to the Missing GRACE Foundation to help them continue supporting families on both a local and national level who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss, infertility and adoption. In addition, the Foundation offers education and programs to help reduce infant death.

Each year this event is staffed by more than 100 volunteers. Currently, the Foundation is still in need of additional volunteers to help for this upcoming event. Anyone interested should contact Missing GRACE today.
Stillbirth claims the lives of 40,000 babies in the U.S. each year. Medically speaking, stillbirth is the death of a baby in its mother's womb after 20 weeks gestational age and up to the moment of delivery. Missing GRACE Foundation supports research and offers programs to decrease the infant mortality statistics and give families hope. The proceeds from the Hope & Hearts Run proceeds affords the foundation the funds to continue offering services and education, to helping women reduce the risk of having a stillbirth or an early-delivery related loss; help health professionals identify and manage pregnancies with cord or placental issues; and offer information and support to for families who have experienced a loss, infertility or adoption challenges.
                                           
About Missing GRACE Foundation
Missing GRACE Foundation (www.missinggrace.org) was founded in 2002 by Candy and Steve McVicar after their daughter, Grace, was stillborn due to umbilical cord issues. Since then, Missing GRACE has been providing resources and support for about approximately 5000 families nationwide each year that have experienced pregnancy loss, infant loss, infertility, or adoption. The Foundation advocates for comprehensive, patient-focused prenatal care for all women. In addition, Missing GRACE has resources available for families in their journey of grief including a hospital Crisis Care program which includes taking keepsake photographs, creating memorial videos, GRACE care baskets, arranging funerals, setting up counseling, and organizing support groups.

Missing GRACE Foundation’s National Headquarters is located in Rogers, MN at The Center for G.R.A.C.E., a resource for bereaved, infertile and adoptive families. The Center provides free counseling services, a library, a gift shop, a play area for children, and complimentary coffee and refreshments, along with free Wi-Fi in the Fireside Community Room.
 
Grieve, Restore, Arise, Commemorate, and Educate.

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A non-profit organization working to change lives affected by pregnancy and infant loss and to promote research and prevention.