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Calling all photographers from novice to expert! (plus a personal story)
I'm helping to organize a walk/run for an organization called It's My Heart. The event will be May 7th 2011, in Mankato at Sibley Park. Our theme is "Touched by a Broken Heart". We're looking for photographers for the event. We are asking that you donate your time and also a cd of the images for us to use post-event.
The walk will likely be at ~9am, but we'd like you there to also photograph the set up, registration, as people arrive, etc. You would need to be able to committ to pretty much the whole day. There is a ceremony after the event where we thank everyone involved, congratulate the top fundraisers and have games for kids. I think there is also a small zoo at this park, so you might want to wander through there and get some pictures of families who are visiting the zoo, etc.
If you would be interested in donating your time along with a CD of the images, or if you'd like more information, please email me at ajung08 (at) hotmail.com. You would be recognized for your contribution and would receive full credit for all photos published to websites, blogs or other areas.
If you would be interesting in volunteering at the event, feel free to email me as well. I'll keep your name and info and when we get closer to the walk we'll contact you if we still need help.
-------The following is my personal story and why I've decided to get involved with It's my Heart. I briefly talk about infant loss. -------
Both my DH and my Sister are CHD survivors. It's a horrible disease that affects 1 in every 100 babies. My Sister was born with a hole in her heart (also known as a VSD). She had her first heart surgery at 1yr old. She had a pacemaker implanted at that time and has since had two surgeries to replace the batteries/leads. My Sister's heart does not beat enough on it's own to keep her alive which is why she has a pacemaker. She'll always be dependent on it. Growing up, she was just like any other child. She wanted to play hockey, fast pitch softball and other 'intense' sports but she couldn't. Her pacemaker was located in her lower abdomen, with leads going to her heart. Any blunt force trauma to the pacemaker could be deadly.
My DH was born with a birth weight of 1lb 6oz. I'm not sure what his exact gestation was, but he was born Nov 8th and shouldn't have been born until May the following year. When his Mom delivered, they told them to be prepared to say goodbye. They said that there was no way he would make it. Each day he was alive, he gained 1% in his chances of survival. He was hospitalized at Children's Hospital from November until February. 
(my DH at birth)
He was born with complete heart block. He also has a pacemaker. His heart will beat on his own, the pacemaker kicks in when his heart needs to beat over 45 bpm. He didn't have to receive his pacemaker until he was 11yrs old. He has since had one surgery to replace leads/batteries.
Growing up both my DH and my Sister have to have pacemaker checks over the phone. We hook them up to a small machine, connect to a phone line and hold a magnet over their pacemaker and an EKG is submitted to Children's Heart Clinic, downtown Mpls. It's received and reviewed by the Doctor's and Techs downtown. Only once a year they're required to go down to their Cardiologist for follow up. When we decide to have kids, this could be a genetic concern for our children. It's not something that has to be worried about until we're at pregnancy though.
A CHD should be detected in an ultrasound, typically around 20wks gestation. Unfortunately, for the founder of the IMH Minnesota chapter, her Daughter's CHD wasn't detected until the day after she was born. Her Daughter, Hazel, passed away 13 days after being born. Her Daughter would be 1 on New Year's Day this year. Keep them in your prayers if you could please. This is a tough time for them, and anyone who has lost a child.
sorry that go so long. I guess I just got goin' and didn't stop!