The eighth annual Charlee's Run fundraiser brought more than 1,000 people to Tudhope Park in Orillia on Saturday.
The event is inspired by Charlee Clare Holmes, who died in 2011 hours after her birth. It was founded in her honour by her parents, Dave and Mallory Holmes.
"We felt really alone in that loss," Mallory said. "We just felt that no other family should have to feel alone, and so this little run idea started."
Originally, the goal was to raise a couple of thousand dollars for the neonatal intensive care unit at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH).
"It just snowballed," Mallory said. "Now it brings out a whole village of people."
Seeing the booming popularity of the event is "bittersweet," she said while noting one in four families experiences the loss of an infant.
"I think it's blown up so much because there is so much loss," she said. "You know that every person that comes out knows a name, a date and a story."
Dave hopes the event will allow parents who have experienced loss to have a safe place to talk about it.
"Each year, we see families and family support creating their own teams," he said. "Some of the teams have over 20 people involved, and that's just with one loss."
Over the past eight years, including this year, Charlee’s Run has raised more than $720,000 for OSMH.
"We literally started this in our living room with a group of family members," Mallory said. "You shouldn't underestimate a village because it just takes one person to create that snowball effect."
Seeing more than 1,000 people supporting the event Saturday was inspiring for Charlee's parents.
"We really thought, 13 years ago, that we would be the only ones to know Charlee," Mallory said. "When you’re a parent, all you want is for your child to have their own life and legacy, and you want them to do great things."
While Charlee didn't get the chance to live long, she has cemented a legacy.
"To know we aren't the only ones who know she existed, and there is a village of people who know, as a parent, there are no words," Mallory said.
The fundraising goal this year was $130,000. Charlee's Run soared past that, raising $161,000 before 10:30 a.m. Some funds will be used to purchase three new Panda Warmers for maternal infant care. Funds will also be used for bereavement resources.
"It's amazing to see how our daughter's name and legacy is attached to so many positive things," Dave said.
Both Dave and Mallory extend their gratitude to the community.
"This event wouldn't happen without everybody coming out to support it," Dave said. "It's an entire village that contributes to Charlee's Run and makes it happen year after year."
Laura Ferris, director of surgical services, regional women and children programs at OSMH, says this year's Charlee's Run is providing a big boost to the hospital.
"Three of our Panda Warmers are extremely old," she said. "It's important to replace them and have standardized equipment throughout the entire department at our hospital."
Ferris says the supporters of Charlee's Run have made an "incredible difference" at OSMH.
"We see losses throughout the years, and we see how it impacts families. This event is so important to raise awareness for pregnancy and infant loss," she said.
