Walk of Remembrance for Steps Never Taken planned Sunday

Spring Hope Enterprise

ROCKY MOUNT — The seventh annual Walk of Remembrance for Steps Never Taken, a local celebration of life established to honor all children lost to miscarriage, stillbirth or infant demise, is planned for 3 p.m. Sunday beginning at the Bryant T. Aldridge Rehabilitation Center on the Nash UNC Health Care campus.

Karen Joyner, a nurse in labor and delivery at the Nash Women’s Center, came up with the idea for the Walk of Remembrance.

“Every year there are parents who suffer the loss of their baby before their birth or soon after. Grieving is a long and hard process, and most will do it silently. This walk is a way for the parents and their families to remember and celebrate the short time they had with their baby and allow them a chance to share their experience with others who have had a similar loss,” Joyner said.

“When grieving the loss of your child, it’s important to not suffer in silence,” said Mary Strickland, interim vice president of nursing for Nash UNC Health Care. “Talking about your child and celebrating their short lives can really help a struggling parent.”

Joyner continued: “Many of the participants of the walk have actually been coming for years, still remembering and celebrating. The beautiful thing about this event is how these families lift each other up and remember together, share their stories and offer comfort and support.”

Parents who would like to participate are encouraged to send their baby’s name and birth date to karen.joyner@unchealth.unc.edu so that it can be added to the honorary banner and read aloud. Families will also be invited to join in a butterfly release at the end of the ceremony.

After the ceremony, everyone is invited to take the short, symbolic walk for “footsteps never taken.” After the walk, light refreshments will be served.

All community members are invited to participate. Registration begins at 2 p.m. Sunday.