Getting started with The Blog...

As if training for a marathon wasn't scary enough, now I've agreed to blog about my experiences and why this is important to me. Please be patient, this is new for me.

I am gearing up to run in the US Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. this October. My run will benefit Safe Kids Douglas County (Kansas) and their Safe Sleep program. All proceeds from the fundraising effort will go to Safe Kids toward the Safe Sleep program and the mission of Safe Kids Worldwide, to prevent accidental injury and death to children ages 0-14.

Safe Kids Douglas County is currently working with several local and regional agencies to increase the public's knowledge of safe sleep practices for infants. Babies that normally sleep on their backs but are placed on their stomach to sleep by someone have an 18 times greater risk of sudden death. A key component of the Safe Sleep program is the production of an educational video for families and child care providers. The video will clearly outline proven safe sleep strategies to help reduce the likelihood of SIDS and other sleep related deaths, including suffocation and choking.

The issue of safe sleep is a very personal one for me. I lost a nephew to SIDS, and I am dedicating my run in this race to his memory. Follow along with me as I train and raise funds to help support this cause that is very near to my heart.

If you would like to help with this initiative, the first thing you can do is help spread the word. Teach parents and all caregivers safe sleep practices for babies. Know the "ABC's"; a baby under one year of age should sleep "Alone, on their Back, in a Crib". Also, watch for announcements on this blog and on the Safe Kids Kansas web page www.safekidskansas.org with the link to the website that will allow you to donate to the cause. If you would like to help in any other way, please contact Safe Kids Douglas County Coordinator John Drees, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, 785-505-3067, or email him at john.drees@lmh.org.