Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.  To honor this month, we have decided to move our race to October 26th this year.  As I look back on the past few years, I see how much solace I have gained from my running and training, and realize how much that has helped me to heal form my own experience of loosing an infant.  I hope that others may also find solace, as we all come together to run for an amazing cause, and help to raise money for such a great foundation.

We are so blessed to be able to be in the lives of these grieving families, and to help and assist them in the way that we can.  While we are still not able to give them a casket, by helping with the internment costs, the financial burden that is relieved through the ECH Foundation is greatly appreciated.

A New Direction

       It's amazing how sometimes, one phone call can change your entire perspective on something, and Sharilyn and I were privileged to have received just such a call a few weeks ago.

It was a Monday morning when I received a text from a mutual friend of ours, asking if our casket was available. The timing of this message was so incredible. We had just had our weekly meeting the night before. At the end of it, I know we were both feeling a little overwhelmed and frustrated. Running a not for profit like this can be a little daunting, there is so much that we want to do, and so many that we want to help. This all takes a lot of money though, and it's been a challenge to raise the funds necessary to get the casket construction up and running.

     However, this message from our friend made us realize a few things. Mostly, that we need to define exactly what we do and who we do it for. Previously, our goal was to make our caskets available for families who had lost an infant within the first 6 months of life. Well, our friend was reaching out to us on behalf of a family who's baby had passed at 7 months old. When she told me the story, my heart ached for this family. This has always been a very personal venture for us, far more for Sharilyn and her family though. But that day, September 10, my own son was exactly 7 months old. When I looked at him smiling at me, I began to cry. Her baby was one month older than our age limit, but I wanted so much to reach out to that mother, who ever she was, and hug her. I wanted to comfort her for her loss. How could I think about a woman who had lost a child, a baby, and do nothing to help? Regardless of whether he was 6 months, 7 months or 2 years old, there was something inside of me that could not let this go, and neither could Sharilyn.

       As we  talked about our options and what we could do to help this family, we decided to take a break, each of us think about what would be appropriate and wait for more news from our friend.  We didn't have a casket ready to go and I was so frustrated with myself for not having done more to push the foundation forward. For not having fought so hard to find the thousands of dollars to be able to be ready to offer more for this family. I was angry and disappointed in myself. I never wanted this venture to be something that would let someone down. That was my biggest fear with starting this is that at some point, some family would be hurt because we weren't ready or able to help them when they needed it the most. I felt like that is exactly what I would do if we didn't do SOMETHING to help.  I just couldn't articulate what needed to be done, but kept getting the prompting of,  "Don't let this opportunity pass."

When Sharilyn called that afternoon, she had more news about the family , and the insight that was dancing around in my head but couldn't find.  She asked simply, "What if we changed our mission? There are a lot of other expenses involved in a funeral that we can help with, even if we aren't ready for the caskets yet.". It sounds so simple, but it was truly a beautiful moment. It was the direction and clarity that we have needed for so long.

     In a matter of hours, our frustration at not being able to do more was shifted to a more purposeful, directed mission that would allow us to help so many more, so much faster. We were humbled by this experience to help this family. I wish I could have been with her when Sharilyn met this wonderful mother who had given her baby seven beautiful months of life. While we grieve with her for her loss, we thank her for the opportunity to open our foundation to change and grow and see the mission that we can better fulfill now.
Best wished to all,
Mindy 

Third Annual Race

Get Ready, Get Set.....

There they go!

We can't offer a big enough THANK YOU to all of our participants in the 3rd annual race that was held on December 31, 2011. We had great weather and a wonderful turnout. We heard a lot of, " I couldn't think of a good enough reason NOT to run" and for us, that's good enough!

We're grateful for all of the friends who know our story and are repeat supporters as well as new runners who wanted a fun off season challenge.

It is our sincere hope that our foundation will continue to grow, and support those who genuinely need the compassionate service we will provide. Stay tuned for more updates as our little foundation progresses and grows!

The race times are posted below, be sure to check them out and brag to all about your success that encourages ours!

1- Ben Walden 19:29.01
2- Alex Bezzerides 19:46.98

3- Tina Hilding 21:11.84

4-Todd Swanstrom 22:31.35

5-Diana Hicke 22:58.68

6-Nancy Yorinks 22:59.04

7-Eric Gorman 23:16.90

8-Jamie Patten 23:56.59

9-Kathey Beerman 24:13.34

10-Stephanie Sant 25:26.70

11-Jessica Bearman 25:25.89

12- Jane Walden 26:19.60

13- Von Walden 26:31.79

14-Holly Monson 26:32.31

15-Cayson Howard 29:56.39

16-Kylee Howard 35:06.81

17-Susila Bales 35:07.32

18-Ryan Watkins 35:49.28

19-Heather Ramsey 45:46.28 (Tie)

19- Julie Bezzerides 45:46.28(Tie)

20-Robert Markley 45:52.09

21-Diana Pauls 46:58.65

22-Doug Pals 49.47.45

23-Carli Salomon 49:49.93

24-Payton Monson 50:09.67

25-Jennifer Morrison 51:21.98

26-Miles Lewis 54:26.45(Tie)

26-Jackie Lewis 54:26.45 (Tie)

27-Karen Johnson 1:05:12.71

28-Mackenzie Watkins 1:05:31.40
29-Brynn Johnson 1:05:31.93

Tristan Watkins- 1st Place Biker

A new year, a new race.. what have we been up to?

It has been an exciting year for the ECH Foundation. Some life changes have taken place for two of our board members, and we couldn't be more excited. Sharilyn and Jeremy welcomed a new baby girl last November, and Mindy remarried and is now expecting a baby as well! A little boy will be joining her family in February.

Reflecting on these two events puts into light for us the very reason why we started the ECH Foundation. Life is precious, and fragile. For the joy that we experience with every birth, there are families who tragically share that same birth experience with marked grief and pain when a child is lost.

In time, we hope to ease some of that pain by being able to provide comfort, support and resources in their time of need. We hope to be able to offer them a sensitive alternative to the current options available for caskets.

The success of this endeavor is so important to us. Navigating the route to a successful not for profit foundation is complex and time consuming. Any time that we have invested is well spent though, if we can help even one family.

Every year, we host a 5K run for a few reasons. First, to honor the memory of our origins. If any of you know Sharilyn, you know first of all that she is a true- blue, dyed in the wool, hardcore runner. It's her passion in life and it is this passion that comforted her in her time of grief. What an excellent way to honor the courage and ability to endure that she has displayed. She has been a strength and shoulder to cry on for so many others, and an example for all.

Second, we firmly believe that we cannot be successful on our own. We have found SO MUCH support, enthusiasm and encouragement for this foundation from not just the Moscow community, but from a greatly extended area as well. Opening up an event like this allows everyone to come together, support, grieve if needed, and run for an excellent cause.

Finally, we cannot make this foundation thrive without financial contributions. It is our goal that the families who endure these trials never have to be burdened with the financial cost of respectfully laying their children to rest. True, there are low cost options available. They are however, little more than Styrofoam containers that do not honor the experience these families have been dealt.

Please join us this year for our 3rd annual 5k walk/ run on Saturday, December 31 at 9 am. The entry fee is $25 with a t-shirt and $15 without. You are welcome to run, walk, donate or volunteer on race day. Race will start at Highway 95 and Sweet Dr (Dominoes Parking lot). Registration starts at 9 am, race begins at 10. Entry forms can be picked up at the Animal Clinic on Highway 8 and Logan in Moscow, Idaho or you can e-mail: echfoundation@gmail.com and we will be happy to send one to you.

We are hoping that you will be willing to run with us and support us in our endeavor to ease the suffering of so many families. We feel that with the support of such good friends and a great community behind us, we can make our third run even more memorable and successful for both the runners and our foundation.

Time for the 2nd Annual 5K Walk/Run

Hi all!  It is time again to start preparing for the 2nd annual ECH Foundation 5K walk/run.  The entry form for this year is up and available, so we encourage all to participate.  The run last year was a major fund raising event, and with your participation, it will be again this year.  So, come out and join us!!

"Offical Times"

Thank you, Lance, for taking care of all the timing and the "official" stuff.  Thank you Brian for measuring the course for us.  Unfortuantely, the only thing we can figure out that happened was that someone moved the turn aound stake for us, and so the course was around 2.6-2.8 miles, instead of 3.1.  So, everyone made REALLY good time!  Next year we will ensure that it doesn't happen, but we all had a good time anyway!  Here's the official results:
1. Matt  M. 15:47.5
2. Dave C.  19:47.8
3. Skip B. 20:47.4
4. Susila B. 21:11.5
5. Jeffery P. 23:05.4
6. Gena P. 23:07.0
7. Marie M. 23:28.8
8. Amy K. 25:04.2
9. Cayson H. 26:36.6
10. Janet A. 27:17.8
11. Mika A. 28:21.4
12. Mary G. 28:22.6
13. Mindy S. 29:11.9
14. Andrea B. 30:11.2
15. Jennifer M. 32:55.4
16. Heather H. 39:12.1
17. Blake P. 47:44.5
18. George P. 49:34.8
19. Conie P. 49:35.7
20. Rob M. 52:31.6

Race Day!

The race was a resounding suscess!  We'll be posting pictures, winners and times in the near future, so keep an eye out here!