The Sparkle Run is in memory of Erin Moomey, who passed away from leukemia in October 2013 at the age of 11.
The event was the brainchild of two of Erin’s elementary school teachers who were avid runners. They called and asked if they could put together a 5K walk/run in May 2014 and wanted to donate the funds to our family. We agreed to the event with one caveat, we did not want the money but we wanted it go towards replacing the playground at Blank Children’s Hospital. We had begun conversations with Blank before Erin got really sick and wanted to fulfill her dream of a new playground at Blank after she passed away.
Erin was only a patient at Blank for 8 months when she caught an infection and passed away. During our time at Blank, especially during the summer months, we would head outside to their park area. There was a playground but it was very old. Erin decided she wanted to replace the playground.
We moved forward with The Sparkle Run in May 2014 and much to our surprise over 1,400 people signed up to participate and we raised $30,000. The playground was replaced at Blank and a ribbon cutting ceremony was held in July 2014.
The decision was made to continue The Sparkle Run on an annual basis to raise funds for families affected by childhood cancer in Erin’s memory.
In 2015, we raised $24,000 and gave the proceeds to Kids Living Brave (a local non-profit who provides Brave Baskets to newly diagnosed cancer patients) and to a local family in Ankeny whose son was battling lymphoma and in 2016, we raised $23,000 and gave the proceeds to Make-A-Wish Iowa to grant wishes to children with life threatening medical conditions,and in 2017, we raised $27,400 and gave the proceeds to the Children’s Cancer Connection.
Our event this year will be held onSunday, May 5th, at the DMACC Campus in Ankeny. We will have family activities/packet pick-up from 12:00 -2:00 p.m., a 5K walk/run at 2 p.m., and a 1-Mile Fun Run at 3 p.m.
All proceeds will be donated toTori’s Angels Foundation this year. The foundation raises funds to help families of their supported children with life-threatening medical conditions.
You may register for the event online at www.getmeregistered.com/TheSparkleRun through May 1st (if you register by April 22nd you will receive an event t-shirt).
You can find additional details and photos from our events on our website –www.sparklerun.org and on our Facebook page under The Sparkle Run.