A 5K run organized by a Wright City teen will raise money for children in need of organ transplants and collect teddy bears for kids who are in the hospital or going through a traumatic situation.
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A 5K run organized by a Wright City teen will raise money for children in need of organ transplants and collect teddy bears for kids who are in the hospital or going through a traumatic situation.
Destiny Padgett, a junior at Wright City High School, is organizing the event after being inspired by the experience of a childhood friend and work done by her grandmother in another state.
The 5K Teddy Bear Fun Run will take place Saturday, April 17, 8 a.m. at the Charette Creek Commons in Innsbrook. Registration for adult runners costs $30, or $20 with the donation of a stuffed animal. All of the money raised will be split between the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) and purchases of stuffed animals for kids in need.
Tickets can be purchased online at: childrens-organ-transplant-association.ticketleap.com/5-k-teddy-bear-run.
“No child should have to go through fear without something to cuddle with,” Padgett said. “Kids should have something to hold when they don’t have anything else, like a parent.”
In addition to donating stuffed animals for children receiving local hospital care, she plans to provide some to local police and firefighters to give to any kids they see in need.
“The main goal now is getting people registered to join the event,” commented Kristy Padgett, Destiny's mom, who is helping her daughter organize the event. The two said their dream would be to have 150 or more runners attend the event and donate both stuffed animals and funding for COTA.
The Padgett family’s first experience fundraising for a child’s organ transplant was for one of Destiny’s friends to receive a heart transplant when they were 8 years old, and again when they were 10. Now they’re both 16 and healthy, and Destiny says she wants to reach out to help more children in need.
“A lot of families can’t pay for surgeries. ... My cousin ripped a tendon, and her family is still struggling with the surgeries,” Destiny said. “I hope to do this until I’m 90. I also want to help make medicine cheaper (in my profession).”
She said she was inspired to include a stuffed animal collection based on a similar program done by her grandmother’s social group in Oregon. Destiny and her family hope that other local families here will also see the need and lend their support.
“Think of the children and their families — how happy and bright their faces get ... when they have a moment of something good,” Destiny commented.
For more information about the Teddy Bear Fun Run, email Kristy Padgett at padgett541@yahoo.com.
