WHY I'M FUNDRAISING WITH THE CHILDREN'S BEREAVEMENT CENTER
I am taking Steps for Healing in the 2024 5K Run/Walk to provide free grief support for children, teens and adults who have lost a loved one.
As some of you know, I lost my father suddenly from a heart attack when I was a sophomore in college in the fall of 1996. I remember answering the knock of a public safety officer on my dorm suite at around 6am and being told to call my step-mom. The news shattered my world. I had just spoke with my dad the night before. How could this happen? How would I deal with this? How would my sister and two brothers? We all forged our on paths with dealing with the passing, sometimes together, sometimes on our own, most likely in ways that the others do not know about. I tried to deal with the loss through friends and family and on my own and eventually it became too much for me - I needed help. I could not be the tough guy and get through this on my own? Luckily, my lacrosse coaches recognized my pain and found me that help. If a 19 year old, college sophomore, college lacrosse player needed help, what help did my younger brothers need? Then several years later, I lost my step-father after a battle with post-Polio syndrome and other illnesses. This too hit hard. Luckily (is that the right word?) I was older and had experienced the loss of my father to help me, but I had another younger brother who now had to deal with this tremendous loss. So when I learned of the Children's Bereavement Center and the amazing work that they do, I had to be a part of the organization. I wanted to help grieving children get the support they need because I know what it is like to need that support.
So when I Step at Steps for Healings, I Step for my dad, my step-father, my sister, my 3 brothers, my mom, my step-mom, and all of the kids out there who tragically have to encounter something so difficult at a young age and need support!
When you make a gift to my Run/Walk, you are directly supporting grieving individuals who need support, camaraderie, and hope to lift from loss. All contributions benefit Children's Bereavement Center so that there are free grief support groups for all.
Thank you for supporting my Steps for Healing fundraising efforts. Grief is Meant to be Shared!
Kurt
