When a 5K is named after your son

It's really happening.....the 1st Annual Joshua Newman Memorial 5K Run/Walk.  Two of Joshua's classmates wanted to organize this event for their Girl Scout Bronze Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve because they were so deeply affected by the loss of their classmate, neighbor and friend.  Several neighbors had been holding a casual after Thanksgiving 5K run and together with our girl scouts they approached Brad and I for permission to make this an event to honor Josh and raise SUDEP awareness.

Our response was an immediate and unanimous yes! We truly feel we want to do what we can so another parent/loved one doesn't walk in and find their sweet ones lost to SUDEP.  We could walk away and live our lives as they are, but dear God how can we?  This is such a devastating thing to live through...it will be part of our day to day lives for the next 30+ years...I do not want another family trying to live through this.

Let's just get it out in the open...no matter how awesome and meaningful the event, it is strange to see my child's name on a memorial event.  I would much rather have him here as only a funny neighborhood boy everyone knows and waves to.  I'd would much rather ask him if he would like to walk with me around the block, or in the Shenandoah instead of coordinating efforts to organize a walk to raise awareness to the challenges of epilepsy.

 

It has truly helped  me to see friends and family take the event flyers and share our event with their friends.  The love they show is incredible.  I keep saying that we are doing this because of  Love!  We love Josh!!!  We love him so much that even after his death, we want to do something special for him.

During a sad moment, I even reached out to an old hometown acquaintance who has a lot more experience in advocacy as a result of surviving a devastating loss.  As busy as he is, he took the time to respond to my note, for which I am so grateful....hearing from him made me feel better, and the end of his note, answered my heart...Here's the end of his note....

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

¹³ Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. ¹⁴ Do everything in love.

Thanks, I needed that.....

Please join us for the Joshua Newman Memorial 5K Run/Walk..  I will be there as the official hugger!!
http://www.events.org/Newman5k/cpage.aspx?e=47519


Hugs!
Sherri