News: Neillsville – Group Hosting Run to Remember (2021)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Strangfeld

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 9/29/2021

Smiling for Samuel to Host Run to Remember (2021)

Smiling for Samuel to Host Run to Remember

By Valorie Brecht

“We run so our angels can fly.” That is the t-shirt tagline and theme of the upcoming Run to Remember.

Smiling for Samuel, a local organization, will host a 3K/5K run/walk event on Oct. 9 in Neillsville. The event will raise money to support families who are dealing with infant and child loss.

Sierra and Lee Strangfeld of Christie founded Smiling for Samuel in honor their son Samuel, who passed away on September 5, 2019, shortly after birth. Samuel had Trisomy 18, a rare condition that causes birth defects in organs and is usually fatal within the first year of life. Smiling for Samuel supports projects such as memory boxes for families dealing with infant and child loss, books to help children coping with the loss of an infant sibling and scholarships for Neillsville High School graduating seniors pursuing an education in fields related to infant and maternal health.

Sierra felt that a run/walk would be a gre4at way for people to support this important cause.

“For one, it’s to get people out and moving. And by having a group of people out running, more people are going to see it and it will bring awareness. Also people don’t feel like they have to have suffered a loss to participate. A lot of people enjoy getting out an being active, so this is a way they can get involved,” she said.

The idea for a run/walk came after Sierra and her husband participated in the Walk to Remember through Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire for people who had lost children.

“We just kind of ran with it as a way to get the whole community involved,” said Sierra.

She hosted a Walk to remember last year, but kept it to a small group of family and friends because of COVID-19. The walk was on Samuel’s birthday and ended at his graveside. This year, Sierra wants to get more people involved. She decided to have the event in October to coincide with Pregnancy Infant Loss Awareness Month. The plan is to keep the run/walk on the second weekend of October each year.

The race will start off at Listeman Park at 9 a.m. It will be timed and the runners will have bibs. The 5K and 3K routes will go up Hewett Street.

“Each runner [or walker] will get a memento at the finish line,” said Sierra. “There will be snacks and drinks provided from Russell’s.”

Those who pre-register will also receive a t-shirt. People may register online at smilingforsamuel.org. Those who are unable to participate in the race but still want to support the cause can purchase a sign to be placed along the route in memory of a loved one or all infants gone too soon. That can be done on the website as well.

“We ae always looking for volunteers to support us,” said Sierra.

To volunteer to help at the race, contact Sierra at 715-937-4944

Smiling for Samuel also plans to host a spaghetti feed sometime in winter.