Grief’s Journey to Host 21st Annual Remembrance Walk
On Saturday, May 18, 8–11 a.m., Grief’s Journey (www.griefsjourney.org) will be hosting the 21st Annual Remembrance Walk. 2019 also marks the return of a 5K race to start the day. The event is at Miller’s Landing and is open to the public. All run and walk registrations will support Grief’s Journey’s efforts to provide excellent and compassionate grief support, for free, to anyone in the community who seeks it.
Pre-registration for the event is preferred and is available at www.griefsjourney.org/events. Remembrance Walk registration is $18 for adults, kids $8 (ages 3–18), and age three and under are free. Walkers who register in advance will receive a photo button in memory of their special person or pet. Participants can also enjoy outdoor activities and games, memorial crafts and local celebrity appearances. Pricing for the 5K race is $28 for adults (ages 19+), $23 for youth (ages 3–18), ages three and under are free. Race registration includes a photo button of your special person or pet and Remembrance Walk activities. Prizes will be awarded to the top 5K finishers in each age category as well as overall winners (top 3) for both men and women. The 5K race is produced in-part with the Omaha Running Club.
Grief is a prevalent and critical public health issue that can have a profound impact on future wellbeing but has long been overlooked. According to Judi’s House/JAG Institute, the childhood bereavement rate in Nebraska is one in 18, affecting more than 5.6% of youth in our community. As a result of the death of a loved one: 15% have broken things or damaged property; 20% have hurt themselves physically in some way; 41% acted in ways they knew were not good for them; 45% had more trouble concentrating in school. (New York Life, 2013 “The Grief Journey of a Child” from the perspective of youth responders.) In the workplace: one in four employees is grieving at any time; 30 work days are lost per year by each employee coping without support from co-workers or managers; 20% of grieving employees will continue losing work days for more than one year. (The Grief Recovery Institute.) This is why free access to comprehensive grief-focused, trauma-informed care and resources is essential. Grief’s Journey’s run/walk is an investment in awareness and prevention work to ensure a compassionate response to all. For more information, visit www.griefsjourney.org.