Next Saturday, August 28th, is the 3rd Annual Forrest Spence 5K at Overton Park in Memphis, TN. Here is a little excerpt about the Fund.
What is the Forrest Spence Fund?
The story of the Forrest Spence Fund begins with the birth of a baby boy in Memphis, Tennessee. Robert Forrest Spence was born to parents David and Brittany in 2007, after a normal pregnancy full of joy and anticipation. Shortly after birth, however, he developed complications from an infection and was rushed to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, where he fought for his life for 55 days before passing away. While Forrest was in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Le Bonheur his story spread throughout the city of Memphis and beyond. Scores of people were touched by his story and by the faith and courage of his parents. A community of people across the mid-south rallied behind this baby boy and provided the Spence family the love and support they needed to survive…. the love and support that helped them through each excruciating decision and each exhausting day in the hospital. The outpouring of love they received forever changed the Spences, and upon Forrest’s death they founded the Forrest Spence Fund in order to give back to their community and the hospital that fought so valiantly for their son. The Forrest Spence Fund – a 501c3 non-profit organization - now exists to assist with the non-medical needs of families and children dealing with critical or chronic illness across the mid-south.
The Fund is currently in its third year of operation and to date has helped hundreds of families in the mid-south region by providing for their physical and emotional needs as they face pediatric illness. Each family has a unique journey, and their needs are treated individually by the Fund’s staff of volunteers. Families in the care of the Fund receive physical comforts to make their hospital time more bearable, emotional support and guidance, and professional Christian counseling when necessary. The Fund also seeks to support the hospitals and medical staff caring for ill children by providing medical-grade equipment and supplies for their Intensive Care Units. The Spences and the volunteers of the Forrest Spence Fund are actively involved at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis and have moved into several other regional hospitals over the course of the past three years. The new “Forrest” sibling room is currently under construction and will be a special part of LeBonheur Hospital’s current expansion.
The 5K is our main fundraiser for the Fund. If you live in Memphis, we would love to see you the day of the race. If you live out of town, you can sign up as a ghost runner and receive a t-shirt in the mail. Click here to learn more about the Fund and to sign up for the race.
