Two weeks ago, over 40 Iris Fund supporters showed up at The Ridgefield Half Marathon and Seven Mile race to run, walk or cheer on Team Iris as they raised more than $11,000 for critical research. Six years ago, Ridgefielders Brittney Crystal and Jose Aleman lost their second child during labor due to prematurity (something that has happened ten million times over the last decade). Since then, they've dedicated a large part of their lives to building her legacy. Through the Iris Fund they work to ensure no family experiences this devastating loss - by providing funding for critical research to determine what triggers full-term labor to eventually end preterm birth.
The town of Ridgefield has supported The Iris Fund since inception. This is most visible at The Ridgefield Half Marathon event. Notable donations from their community included: 13 local vendors who donated raffle items, The Mathew Kosbob Memorial Fund that is the team's leading sponsor, and of course the incredible Chez Lenard that served up food for all of the runners! In addition, Oh So Swag was at the finish line making made-to-order custom trucker hats.
Brittney also reached out to fellow native Ridgefielder Jared Gell to be the team's "last runner." The Ridgefield Running Company donated $1 for every runner that Jared passed! Brittney and Jared first met as young kids growing up in Ridgefield - which made the partnership even sweeter. Jared did an incredible job, passing 356 runners, and The Ridgefield Running Company added to that by donating a total of $1,000.
"As we start Prematurity Awareness Month, we do so with a great sense of gratitude for our community that comes out to this special event every year. And we recommit ourselves to our mission: to help mothers and babies realize healthy, safe pregnancies and labors by understanding what causes labor and preterm birth. On a personal note.. I grew up here, returned with my husband when we were ready to start our family, but I never really knew how special this town was until it collectively picked us up in our hour of need and stayed with us! Thank you, Ridgefield."
In addition to raising money for research The Iris Fund is also the organization that worked with our Representative Aimee Berger-Girvalo last year to get the Stillbirth Tax Credit passed in our state. Should you want to learn more about them or donate- please visit their website at www.theirisfund.org
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