BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — October is recognized as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month to honor the families that have lost a child.
A local nonprofit is working to educate the community and support those affected by continuing to host their annual event.
The Noel Alexandria Foundation is hosting its 3rd Annual Running With the Angels 5k run and walk this year, but it's being held virtually. Friday, 23ABC spoke with the founder who shares that she is continuing to bring awareness and help all that are grieving and in need of support.
The Noel Alexandria Foundation is a three-year-old local nonprofit that specializes in providing free resources, classes, emotional support, and financial assistance for burial expenses, for mourning families that have lost an infant. Better known as angle babies.
The nonprofit was founded by Trinity Brown, who lost her daughter- Noel Alexandria who was stillborn in October of 2017. Out of her grief, she began creating a safe haven for grieving parents.
"After experiencing that traumatic loss I looked into the community for support and resources and I found that there weren't too many for families and I felt that it was something I needed to do and provide these resources" said Brown.
So far the organization has helped hundreds of families in and out of the community. Currently, the organization is gearing up for its Third Annual Running with The Angels 5k walk and run. All profits will go to funding their services. And due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it will be held virtually.
"Just like previous years, you register online, there will be an app they can download called the Racejoy App and it will track their course and they can do it anywhere. You can do it on your treadmills, in your neighborhood, or go to the Riverwalk Park where we have a court mapped out at Riverwalk," said Brown.
The course at Riverwalk Park can only be viewed via the Racejoy App as a solo run, which again is all virtual.
The 5K event will be held from Oct. 5-10 with the 10 being the last day to register.
Brown says that this more than just walk/run ,but also a memorial for all the babies gone too soon.
"Our finale will consist of the releasing of butterflies at Riverwalk Park for the angel babies, or they can pick up a flower for a memorial for their babies as well."
You can register here.
