Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images courtesy of Jan Shadix
On Saturday, September 9th, downtown Jasper will play host to the Angel Babies Run—an event that’s more than just a race.
The day kicks off at Restoration Hall with registration opening at 6 a.m., and the race at 7 a.m. There will be a 5k and 10k race, each open to runners and cyclists.
While there’s no participation fee, this event welcomes donations from attendees. Additionally, commemorative T-shirts are available for $20. These can be purchased at the race or preordered online at Angel Babies – Home Town Vinyl & More (hometownvinylandmore.com). All proceeds will be donated to two local organizations, Halo and the Pregnancy Test and Resource Center.
This meaningful event was founded by Candice Waldrop, who, in 2022, experienced the profound tragedy of losing her baby. In her own words, “I felt like I lost complete purpose, even though I have two children that are living, that are healthy.”
However, Candice didn’t let despair define her journey. Instead, she found renewed purpose in organizing the Angel Babies Run. For her, it’s about helping other families heal.
“No one talks about how hard it is to go through something like that, and no one knows how to help people. And the people who are going through it don’t know how to handle it either, so, I just want the community to show each other that they’re not alone in their feelings. I believe this is just the Lord working through me to be able to reach out to these people.” WL
