A WALK TO REMEMBER – HONORING PREGNANCY AND INFANT LOSS
Written by Ballzer on October 8, 2024
A Walk to Remember is a free community event that honors babies who have passed away and raises awareness about perinatal death, open to parents, family members, and the general public. The event is held annually on the second Saturday of October, which is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.
This year, the event will take place on Saturday, October 12th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at The Nature Place, in Myrick Park, in La Crosse, WI. The program will include a brief ceremony, activities for parents and children, refreshments, and a commemorative walk. The Walk to Remember is co-sponsored by Gundersen Health System and Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare.
Catherine Pelletier, Certified Child Life Specialist and Bereavement Coordinator at Gundersen came in to talk about the event and why it’s so important:
Need assistance? Contact Catherine Pelletier, Certified Child Life Specialist at Gundersen Health System (ext. 58592) and Bereavement Coordinator at Resolve Through Sharing (608-775-5278).
- Return to Zero is a national non-profit organization that provides holistic support, resources, and community for all people who have experienced unimaginable loss during the journey to parenthood.
- Caring Bridge is an online platform where no one goes through a health journey alone. Stay connected with friends and family through any health journey.
- Call 211 anytime to get help from staff and volunteers across the country.
Each year, Resolve Through Sharing (a program of Gundersen Medical Foundation) and Mayo Clinic Health System–La Crosse cosponsor two events in our community for those grieving pregnancy loss and infant death. These commemorative events honor and celebrate babies who have died and promote public awareness about perinatal death. Parents, family members, and others are invited to attend. The first event is the Walk to Remember, the second is the Candlelight Memorial Service, a community dinner, candle lighting ceremony, and nondenominational remembrance service. This year’s event will be Monday, December 2 at 5:00 p.m. at The Chapel of Mayo Clinic Health System–La Crosse, 700 West Ave S.
