Staff in the Women and Children’s Health Program at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance say they just want to “give everyone the best start they can have.”
To that end, the unit is running the Strong Starts for Tiny Hearts fundraising 5K run, walk and stroll in late May.
Shannon Verschraegen, a nurse in the program at the hospital, said staff want to provide more than what is able to be funded by the hospital in terms of tools and equipment available to help moms and their babies.
“We really do care about what we do and we really do care about the people we treat and that we help,” she said.
To that end, the team has organized the fundraiser for May 31 at Mud Creek in Chatham.
“Our unit, we try to keep up with the latest strategies to mobilize moms in labour, to help our moms and babies bond and recover from what they’ve been through,” Verschraegen said. “For some of this, we are able to draw from the hospital budget to get it covered.”
But the team wants to go “a little above and beyond,” she added, “with the tools and equipment we use.”
Hence the fundraiser.
As for what items the funds will purchase, Verschraegen said that will be based upon the level of cash raised.
“We will do a formal needs assessment after the fundraising effort to see what the available funds can be utilized for,” she said.
Items could include more specialized neo-natal equipment, as well as labour and delivery positioning items, Verschraegen said.
Registration for the 5K takes place at 9 a.m. May 31 and the event begins at 10 a.m. The fee to register is $25, but it is free for anyone who brings in $50 or more in pledges, Verschraegen said.
She added a person doesn’t have to break into a jog if they don’t want to.
“This is a family-friendly event. You don’t have to be a runner. We’re going to have lots of people coming to walk,” she said. “And you don’t have to do all of the 5K. The nice part of Mud Creek is there are lots of ways to turn around and head back.”
However, for running enthusiasts, Verschraegen said the event will be timed for everyone who so wishes.
“We will have it timed if people are interested to use the running time to qualify for other races,” she said. “But most people are running for fun, or are going to be out with the strollers with their kids.”
