Unborn Life Wins at Born to Run

With cool temperatures and sunny skies prevailing in downtown Baton Rouge on Nov. 16, the race was on. Some participants stretched or jogged in place before approaching the starting line with their minds set on crossing the finish line first. Others approached more leisurely and were content to cross the finish line at all. One thing was clear – they were all winners for supporting the unborn at Woman’s New Life Clinic’s annual Born to Run.

Bishop Michael G. Duca led the participants in prayer and blessed them before the start of two races:  a ½ mile and a 5K fun run. Cheers prevailed from supporters, from the first to the last finishers.

The number of registered participants in this year’s race far surpassed last year’s, with 1,188 people this year compared to 800 people last year, according to Allison Daigle, CEO of WNLC. Runners and walkers of all ages and backgrounds trekked the streets around town square and the Louisiana capitol area. More than $130,000 was raised for WNLC through the event.

“This has been an incredible record-breaking year,” said Daigle.

Top right photo: Nearly 1,200 people competed in Born to Run. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic Commentator
Above Photo: Bishop Michael G. Duca, forefront, was present talking with people and cheering on the participants in the event. The bishop led the people in prayer before the start of the races. Photo by Darlene Aguillard 
After the races there was a “birth”day party, with a birthday cake, other food, and music The winners of the races were also recognized: ½ mile overall winners: Andrew Fruge, men’s category, and Ally Frazier, women’s category; and 5K overall winners: Joshua Andrews, men’s category, and Bonnie Dial, women’s category.

The most satisfying part of the event for racers was assisting WNLC in their mission of providing women with support and services. WNLC provides unplanned pregnancies resources, family planning/fertility instruction for couples having a difficult time conceiving, low-cost women’s health services, abortion pill reversal, and counseling.

This was Connie and George Price’s third time to enter Born to Run. They are members of Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Baton Rouge.

“Children are on my heart. I love children and anything having to do with them,” said Connie Price. “I pray for them every day, and I believe in their right to life.

“An event like this naturally supports Woman’s New Life Clinic and this is our way of supporting it. It’s fun, it’s camaraderie and all these Christians from different churches getting together for one purpose and that’s unborn children.”

Deacon Michael Parker, business administrator at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in St. Amant, and Allison Daigle, CEO of Woman’s New Life Clinic, announce the names of the winners of the races at a post-race “birth”day party. Photo by Debbie Shelley | The Catholic CommentatorDavid and Michelle Landry, members of St. Patrick Church in Baton Rouge, have participated in the event for eight years.
 
“(Michelle’s mom) has been involved in it for several years,” said David Landry. “Our son used to come out and run – he was on the cross-country team for St. Michael High School. He actually won the event one or two years.”

The Landrys participated in both races this year.

“It was fun. It was very well organized and great volunteers. (We had) wonderful people cheering us on along the way,” said Michelle Landry.

First-time participants Courtney Colombs and her sister Kelly Morgan were encouraged to enter by their sister-in-law, Leslie Sanders. Sanders organized the Our Lady of Mercy Church in Baton Rouge team.

“This is something everyone should be doing. The children are our future,” said Colombs.

“We have to protect the babies,” Morgan added.