By Paige Gurgainers

Even with rain clouds on the horizon, joy and remembrance filled Minden’s downtown park on Saturday morning as families, runners and supporters gathered for the inaugural Angel Baby Fun Run, hosted by Hearts & Halos: Infant and Pregnancy Loss Awareness.

The event, created to honor babies gone too soon while providing connection and healing for grieving families, was a heartfelt success. Attendees enjoyed a day of running, music, vendors and community fellowship – capped off by a touching bubble release ceremony that filled the sky with color and love just before the storm moved in. 

“Overall, the event was great. I did not expect that many people to sign up to run. There was a family of more than 20 that came to run in honor of Baby Randall Zane,” said event organizer Neisa Murray. 

The event raised a total of $1,546.39, in addition to numerous in-kind donations and sponsorships that helped make the day possible. Proceeds will go toward supporting families who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and toward officially registering Hearts & Halos as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Funds raised included:

Pre-registrations & online donations: $407.39, Day-of registrations: $204.00, Gift basket raffle entries: $40.00, Direct monetary donors: $895.

Among the many supporters who helped make the event possible were:

Women of Courage – Webster ($300), Men of Courage – Webster (in-kind support), Geaux Fresh Bistro & Bakery ($100), CanDo Ministries ($100) and Minden Medical Center (donated bubbles valued at $29.99).

Local businesses also contributed to the gift basket raffle, including Shake Those Pounds, The Villas at Spanish Court, The Clayground Louisiana and Shug’s Minden.

In addition to honoring babies lost too soon, the event served as a celebration of healing and hope – a reminder that even in grief, community can bring light.

According to Murray, the organization still needs $155 to complete the process of registering as an official non-profit, which will allow them to apply for grants, host more community events and expand their mission of supporting grieving families across the United States.

“Together, we can continue to bring comfort, awareness, and hope to families who’ve experienced the unimaginable loss of a precious baby,” Murray shared in a statement.

To make a contribution, please donate here: https://gofund.me/41c08ed8b