Joe and Sarah: Journey to Baby: Illinois Race for the Family

We did our first 5K, Joe ran...I walked!

Tinina, Joe, Sarah, Camille, and Jason
(If you don't know the story behind the Cade Foundation, ask- it's awesome)

Friday morning, we ventured north for the Race for the Family. Joe drove, so I kicked back and read Pretty Little Liars (very intellectually stimulating material) and let him deal with driving around Chicago. We checked in at our room and then headed to packet pick up, where I had volunteered us for the evening. We hung out, passed out packets and shirts, and visited with everyone volunteering. As of Friday night, there were 208 registered to be on the course for the Race. I was able to meet Julie from the Infertility Awareness page on Facebook who signed up for the Race with her daughter. After helping pack up everything, we headed to Chipotle for dinner and then back to crash for the night.
Saturday morning came quickly and we headed to Deer Grove Forest East to help set up for the Race. I'm really not sure how many registered on Saturday morning, but there were people everywhere! Yellow shirt volunteers, green shirt Race sponsors, and purple shirt race participants. We rocked our yellow shirt while setting up, but then changed to our purple one! Joe lined up with the runners, and they were off. Walkers followed a minute or so behind, so I geared up my playlist, and started out. I've been walking so I was ready to rock and roll. While I was walking, it hit me how blessed we truly are by the Cade Foundation. Granted, we haven't done our IVF cycle yet...but it was an emotional event to stop and process all the people there to help people like us overcome infertility. As I looked ahead and behind me, there were purple shirts, strollers, doctors, nurses, couples still in their journey, and those who have overcome infertility...everyone together for a common cause.
Joe finished the race in forty minutes, and I came in about fifty four. While Joe recovered, I explored Savannah's Playground with Audrey and Cole. After helping with clean up and saying our good byes, we headed to Crown Point for the night. Before heading home on Sunday, we had a visit at the park with Joy, Jack, and Kate. It was nice to get some family time in addition to our Cade Family time!
We are already looking forward to the Race for the Family next year! We did find out the recipient of the Savannah's Grant is eight weeks along. Savannah's mommy Lisa is 17 weeks along!!
A little bit about Savannah's Playground and Grant:
Savannah’s Playground is an area at our Race for the Family events where children and their parents/caregivers can play, take part in age-grouped Toddler Trots, listen to live acoustic children’s music with talented local and national artists, and learn about child safety. These playground events honor the memory and legacy of Savannah Caroline Pereira – a happy, beautiful baby girl conceived in love with the help of infertility assistance. Savannah loved to play, listen to and make music, read books, interact with her parents and caregivers. Savannah died in 2010 at 10 months of age in a tragic accident. To honor her and bless other families struggling with infertility, her parents, Lisa Rushton and Charley Pereira, established Savannah’s Memorial Fund with the Cade Foundation. Savannah’s Memorial Fund provides an annual grant to couples trying to conceive their first child so that they may have an opportunity, which might not otherwise be possible, to experience the joys of parenthood.

All in all, we had a great weekend trip with our Cade Family! We look forward to overcoming infertility ourselves and continuing to do education and outreach to help other couples. Support is out there if you or someone you know is struggling! Please let us know if we can help or be of assistance. Also, in addition to the Cade Foundation check out Fertility Centers of Illinois. Dr. Eve Feinberg from FCI is amazing! Not only did does she make little miracles, she ran the race, worked packet pick up, and came up with the cutest "Just Did It" t-shirts. I'm hoping there will be a good picture up on the Cade site!
Special thanks to Craig, Audrey, & Cole for making the trip up from Muncie, too! Thanks Buzz and Linda for donating to Indiana Jones!
Thanks to everyone for the love and support!
Joe and Sarah