Good things can sometimes come from tragedy.
Jennifer Bush-Lawson lost her life in 2014 after spending the
morning volunteering at Nottingham Elementary School in Arlington. She was
struck and killed by a passing dump truck while putting her daughter in her car
seat.
Neal Lawson, Jennifer’s husband, has devoted himself to honoring
his wife’s memory through the Jennifer Bush-Lawson Foundation (JB-LF), launched
in 2015 on the anniversary of her death.
The foundation provides funding for medical care for pregnant
women and their children through the first year of life. Being able to help
women receive quality healthcare — especially for high-risk pregnancies — is
important to the family since the Lawson’s three children were born prematurely,
and Jennifer struggled with difficult pregnancies.
One of the ways the foundation is funded is through an annual 5K
race and family fun day, now in its third year. This year’s race raised more
than $100,000. The Nov. 18 5K race started and finished at the Edward Douglass
White Knights of Columbus council home in Arlington. The Knights donated the
use of the grounds for the event that drew more than 450 racers ranging in age
from 7 to 69. Many families bundled up for the chilly fall day race while
pushing babies and toddlers in strollers.
The activities included face painting, moon bounces, food trucks,
silent auction and live music.
The foundation’s mission “is to serve economically vulnerable
mothers and infants by improving access to high-quality maternal and pediatric
healthcare and support.” The JB-LF partners with the Virginia Hospital Center outpatient
clinic and the Arlington Pediatric Center to carry out this vision.
Michele Werner, director of development at the Virginia Hospital
Center said, “The best thing about working with the JB-LF is how innovative and
forward thinking they are to help solve problems for patients, and they care
about the population of expectant mothers and children.”
High-risk pregnancies include many doctors’ visits, which can
become untenable for many women, especially those with lower incomes or the
uninsured. Through the JB-FL, infants receive access to well child medical
care, acute care, specialty care, developmental assessments, and pack and plays
for a safe place to sleep. Mothers are getting crucial pre-natal care,
ultrasounds, and help monitoring their pregnancies through support such as
telemedicine, a smartphone app that allows them to check in with a doctor from
work or home. This free service has decreased greatly the number of missed
appointments.
Courtney Portner, a parishioner of St. Agnes Church in Arlington and
friend of the Lawson family, has volunteered at the event for three years. “The
race was not only about raising funds,” she said. “It’s great how the community
comes together to support the neighborhood and Neal. It’s a way to keep in
touch and support one another.”
“The sense of community and giving back is especially important
for the kids,” she added. “It was great to see all ages come out, whether they
were running or not, to raise money for a great cause.”
Buy photos from the 5K at catholicherald.smugmug.com.
