Our older daughter spent seven weeks in Children’s St. Paul NICU and our younger daughter spent four weeks at Children’s Minneapolis in the NICU and Special Care Nursery. During our first stay, I vividly remember walking through the NICU and seeing a sign for the Baby Steps 3k. I had heard about the event before but it hit me in that moment that this was an event created for my daughter. And for all the other babies whose rooms I passed each day. And for all the babies who came before us and who would inhabit the space after us. This event was created to ensure all of these little ones (and their families) have what they need during their hospital stay. And in that moment I vowed to participate each year.

I know that by definition the Race for Children’s is a fundraiser, but to me it is so much more. One word captures what it means to me: celebration. It is a day each year that we stop and focus on nothing else but celebrating our girls. We bring our village and we walk for them, to honor what they have been through and what they have accomplished despite being so fragile. It is incredible to gather with the other families celebrating their own kids who needed Children’s. And I celebrate their kids with them because they are all amazing. They have endured more than most of us adults and they never give up.

While we may support different areas of Children’s, everyone who participates shares a powerful connection – we all know and love a child who needed care at Children’s. We will join together on June 24 to honor our amazing kids and to raise money to ensure other kids receive the care they need. And by bringing all of these people together at a single event we will create one big, fun, noisy and meaningful morning of celebration.