We had 179 walkers & runners and well over 200 people there on August 6, 2011 - a day we picked because it was a year from Rachel's diagnosis the previous August 4th. We had great weather, a little hot, and were blessed by how the community and the local businesses supported us to make this happen.
You can see the race website, the sponsors and the winners By clicking here!
Here is a video I created using photographs donated by Erin Moore from Mercy Street Studio and Rene Binette.
We had our 2nd Annual Baby Rachel's Legacy 5K on August 4, 2012. Once again, we were blessed with amazing weather and a great turnout. We donated $9,430 in Rachel's honor to Family Builders Ministries in support of their Stronger Together Ministry. You can read about our sponsors and the race winners Here
The theme for this year was a quote from an unknown author: "Some say you are too painful to remember, I say you are too precious to forget."
The highlight of the day is our Baby Remembrance Ceremony where we remember other babies gone too soon. This is a time of healing for us as well as other families who still deeply miss their babies and love hearing their names spoken. I gave the speech below, we read each of the 45 other babies by name and then released our balloons. My balloons for Rachel had daisy seeds in them...
The song is written and performed by Phil Yoder, who wrote this song for us right before Rachel's birth. (I have to read my speeches or I'd never get through them, so please excuse my poor presentation skills here!) Thank you Keith Chick of Mister Oz Graphics for filming this video for us!
Rachel's 3rd Race was a great success! We had perfect weather, a great crowd, lots of support and love from the community, and more babies remembered at our cememony than ever before - over 100! This was a big year for Baby Rachel's Legacy as we were officially given our 501(c)3 status and we also had our 5K course certified! Both of these were big steps for us and something I pray God will use to further His purpose with Rachel's life.
After our costs were covered, we have about $4,700 as proceeds to use this coming year! This is lower than in years past because I didn't do any pre-race soliciting of corporate sponsors - and our costs were higher this year - so although it sounds like it didn't go as well, the day itself actually went even better than before! I cannot wait to see how God will use this in the year ahead to bless others in Rachel's honor and for His glory!
Here is a video I made... from my heart to yours... It's long, but worth it!