Cochrane mother of three, Valentina Fenton, is ramping up fundraising for the 38th annual ‘2015 Sport Chek Mother’s Day Run, Walk & Ride’ — which will take place May 10 at the Chinook Centre in Calgary.
The funds will go directly toward the Calgary Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs at Calgary hospitals) and the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation (through the Forzani Foundation).
Valentina has been busy handcrafting leashes, made from climbing rope donated by Stronghold Calgary Climbing Centre and reinforced with metal purchased by her family; she is looking for donations of $15 from anyone who is looking to purchase a leash.
She is currently awaiting confirmation for a date and location to hold a fundraising event where her leashes will be available for purchase for the cause.
All of the funds go toward the cause that the Fenton family is behind; learn more or donate by visiting mdrunandwalk.com and pledge under ‘Fenton5’.
For Valentina and husband Cody, it’s their way of giving back in the name of their family, for all families whose lives have been impacted as a result of needing to use the Calgary NICU facilities.
“Once your family has spent time in the NICU you can never let it go,” she said, reflecting on her own family’s story.
When son, Darroch was born in August 2013, he wound up spending 22 days in the Foothills NICU due to a hypoxic brain injury, where he had to spend a lot of time in a therapeutic cooling bed. The family was reeling in shock, considering that this trauma followed a normal, healthy pregnancy.
Fast-forward 18 months later and baby Darroch is leading the life of a healthy child with normal development. Darroch is the third child for Valentina and Cody, who also have two daughters, eight-year-old Shelby and six-year-old Hannah.
“Having Darroch in the (Foothills) NICU was a terrifying, traumatic experience — we are so grateful for the work that was done there, because it literally saved my son and my family,” said Valentina.
“We appreciate the fundraisers that came before us that provided the care for Darroch and myself, such as breast pumps and milk storage supplies. We were surprised that the NICU provided absolutely everything for our baby — diapers, soothers, baby clothing, blankets.”
Valentina said the NICU staff at the Foothills advised her that most of the NICU machines and life-saving equipment are purchased through fundraising initiatives; this is what has fueled her journey to give back by fundraising with her own family. Last year was the first that the family of five participated in the five-km walk; they managed to raise $6,100 (including a $2,000 donation from Wal-Mart) for the cause in less than a month.
