Why I walk in NAF’s Accreta Awareness 5K
October is Accreta Awareness Month, the biggest month of the year for placenta accreta spectrum advocacy. AAM includes:
community calls to action & a social media campaign
a live community participation Accreta Expert Series event with an Accreta Expert
our biggest event and fundraiser of the year, NAF’s Accreta Awareness 5K
This year NAF caught up with some of our previous participants and top fundraisers to hear their “why” and what AAM means to them:
Raise Awareness
“I always love participating in the Accreta 5K each year. As a mama who had traumatic deliveries with two babies because of the condition, I am 100% for raising awareness and support for the cause.With my youngest son’s birthday being October 17th, the race always comes at the perfect time to celebrate our lives and to acknowledge what we went through together.”
- PAS survivor Meghan Campbell
Support the community &
pay it forward
“You never think that something like Accreta will happen to you. When I was diagnosed, the online community that NAF had created through Facebook brought me so much comfort, and immediately made me feel like I was no longer alone in that incredibly challenging experience.
For me, Accreta Awareness Month and the 5k not only raise awareness and financial support for the research and amazing work y’all do, but they reconnect me to that community that supported me through everything, and remind me why it’s so important to have ways to connect to other women going through it now.”
- PAS survivor Kelly Berry
Bring people together
“My family, friends and even my doctor and nurse who were with me on that Accreta day have supported my 5K in years past. I sent the link out knowing that folks could say no but either way it was helping me to talk about it. My advice for others would be to lean on your support system in fundraising and cheering you along. Hopefully it’s the same special people who have been there for you your whole accreta journey. I’ll be out there running this year with my “Accreta Mama” shirt, tears in my eyes and to my Accreta Sisters I say “This one's for you.”
- PAS Survivor and 2022 Accreta Awareness Champion Stacy Tate
Walk for a purpose
"I did my 5k when I was pregnant. I was put on pelvic rest and the only thing I could do was walk. So I chose to walk for a purpose. Not only did it give me an outlet to get my friends involved to share my stress and help me with my feelings during that time, but it also educated my friends and family on social media. They could understand what I was going through and show their support. I shared a photo from each walk I took and the final walk with my family."
- PAS Survivor Mykalynn Penny
Do something positive
By chance the AAM 5k happens during the month of my son’s birthday, which is also my percreta survivor day. PTSD is a nasty set of letters, and the deepest scar percreta left behind. Fundraising for National Accreta Foundation, and getting out into the world to find a path to walk my very own 5k is something positive I can do to celebrate my son and myself. Supporting an organization dedicated to reducing the number of accreta sisters following behind me is a bonus.
- PAS Survivor Taniya Burrows
be someone’s light
“My only tip would be that while being genuine and open about your experience may feel terrifying and vulnerable, it might also be what someone needs to feel less alone, and to me, that is worth it.”
- PAS survivor Kelly Berry
A time to give back
“I love the Accreta community. I have been so loved, seen, and supported by women who have walked through similar experiences, it is an incredibly loving and solid sisterhood. I am so honored to get to walk life alongside them.”
- PAS survivor Meghan Campbell
Be accreta strong
“The race fundraiser gave us the opportunity to engage with our local community and brought awareness to this condition and to the National Accreta Foundation. It also allowed us to build community with other survivors across the country. Continuing to participate in the 5K each year also shows our children that we continue to be Accreta Strong!”
- PAS Survivor Leah Hood
Accreta awareness
“To me accreta awareness means educating the general population, as well as health care providers, regarding the incidence, risk factors, importance of early identification, and local resources available for those diagnosed.”
- PAS survivor Adria Trentzsch
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GET Your Accreta Gear
Accreta Awareness Month is the perfect time to wear your accreta gear. We have styles for the whole family offered as donor gifts with eligible tax deductible donations. Checkout our gear center for the latest styles.
accreta awareness month
October is Accreta Awareness Month and focuses attention on placenta accreta, one of the fastest growing life-threatening complications of pregnancy. Check out our campaign materials to help you celebrate Accreta Awareness Month with your family and friends, at your hospital, within your community, and more.
PLACENTA ACCRETA PATIENT & FAMILY RESOURCES
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