Compassionate Friends to take first steps towards healing

The first step can be the hardest for an adult who has lost a child.

In many cases the shock of having to lay to rest a child you brought into this work is just way too much.

To help residents suffering with this type of grief is a new group in Santa Rosa County called the Compassionate Friends.

This Saturday the Compassionate Friends of Santa Rosa County will take that first step with its first “Walk to Remember” at Pensacola State College in Milton.

This two mile walk has grown from what many thought would be a quaint group of organizers and family to a large gathering.

“I was expecting to have around 60 people sign up for this weekend’s walk, but we are already up to 150,” said Marie Harris, chapter co-leader for Santa Rosa County. “Last week I just placed an order for 250 shirts.

“The outpouring of support has just been awesome. It is hard to take that first step; it was hard for me to go public after losing my child.”

In January the organization who helps families after a child dies took root in Santa Rosa County to offer support and information to families in need.

“We meet once a month and have speakers come talk at our meetings,” Harris said. “We also have a library of books and pamphlets to help as well.”

Compassionate Friends is the world’s largest self-help bereavement organization, The Compassionate Friends offers friendship, understanding, and hope to families that have experienced the death of a child at any age from any cause.

There are more than 625 chapters in the United States.

The Santa Rosa County walk is being held in conjunction with The Compassionate Friends National Conference Walk to Remember® in Minneapolis, Minn., where as many as 1,500 are expected to walk July 17, 2011.

The walk begins at 8 a.m. at Pensacola State College, Milton Campus.

Following the walk, participants will join for a short memorial service where there will be a balloon release.

“Whether someone walks 2 miles or a couple hundred feet is not important,” Harris said. “What is important is that we have taken this time to join with family and friends who care that an important person, a child, is missing from our lives. We are joining with bereaved families and friends walking in unity in states across our country to remember all children who died too soon, no matter their age or cause of death.”

Registration for the local walk will get underway at 7 a.m. or you can go to the local website to download a registration form at www.compassioantefriendssanta rosa.com or search their name on Facebook.

For more information or to make a pledge you can call 994-8108 or e-mail harries_marie@att.net.