Women's Hope puts on annual Walk 4 Life fundraiser
March 24, 2018 - Auburn, Ala.
Members of the Auburn community gathered at Town Creek Park on March 24 for the Walk 4 Life, a fundraiser and family fun day that raised awareness about Women’s Hope Medical Clinic.
Participants of all ages could sign up for a one mile walk or a five kilometer run. There was also a visit from Aubie the Tiger, a bounce house, door prizes and information about Women’s Hope.
“There’s a lot of girls that come through that don’t have any support,” said Abbie Smith, the nurse manager at Women’s Hope. “Getting to provide that family of people to them, even though they don’t know us at all, has been really awesome.”
After Smith and her husband lost their first baby while she was six months pregnant, Smith said she got a better understanding of the grieving process and of how early babies develop. She said she uses this experience to help others through Women’s Hope.
“My personal life has given me a little more passion, but I’ve always loved serving others and being able to provide health to people that are in a rough situation and just need those extra resources and that extra support,” Smith said.
Women’s Hope puts on the Walk 4 Life event every year to help financially sustain the clinic and to raise awareness in the community. Smith said the walk also gives people in the community an opportunity to come together and celebrate the cause.
“Babies who can’t fend for themselves, we’re being a voice for them,” Smith said.
Many of the participants of the Walk 4 Life event came with their church groups, such as Tammy Doorman, who walked the mile at the event. She said that a member of her church asked all of the church’s youth to come out to the event.
“I think they all showed up today,” Doorman said. “And it inspired us to come too.”
Shelley Black, another walker at the event, also came with her church.
“I just really support the cause,” Black said. “I definitely believe in this.”
The event had signs around the grass that used statistics to inform the participants about pregnancy and abortions. There was also a blanket in the grass that had about 20 pairs of shoes placed on it. Each pair had a handwritten note from a parent in loving memory of a child who was lost to abortion.
“Joshua, I am so sorry for hurting you and not taking care of you,” one note read. “I love you. I love you. I will help others. I miss you… Love, your mommy.”
The event raised over $26,000, which the clinic can use to continue providing free pregnancy tests and other services for expecting mothers and fathers.
Elle Fuller, director of marketing at Women's Hope, hired me to attend this event to take photos and write an article for the clinic's newsletter.