University Hospitals Adler Bereavement Programs to Host Third Annual Remembrance Walk for Families who Have Experienced the Loss of a Child

CLEVELAND, Ohio – July is International Bereaved Parents Awareness Month. To recognize this, the Joanie & Tom Adler Bereavement Programs at University Hospitals MacDonald Women’s and Rainbow Babies & Children’s hospitals, along with the Auxiliary of University Hospitals, are hosting the third annual Remembrance Walk for parents, family members, friends, and UH staff members to come together to remember a precious baby or child who has passed away.

When: Saturday, July 19

• 7:30 – 8:45 a.m. Registration

• 9:00 a.m. Remembrance Program with Keynote Speaker Rainbow and MacDonald Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ethan Leonard and reading of names by Rainbow and MacDonald chaplains Matthew Bauhof and Joanie Webster.

• 9:15 a.m. One mile walk around the zoo begins

Where: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland)

Why: Losing a child can be extremely traumatic and the grieving process can be overwhelming – especially without an outlet for expressing and talking through your grief. University Hospitals is working to build a safe community for people who have endured the death of a baby or child by providing support and resources for grieving parents and families.

The UH team takes a patient- and family-centered approach to grief support. UH provides personalized resources and recommendations for every family, because grief is a personal experience tailored to families’ unique needs. UH stays connected with families, continuing to provide services and support as needed in the weeks, months and years following a loss. The UH program is supported through a generous gift from the Adler family, which created the UH Joanie & Tom Adler Endowed Director of Parent Bereavement Programs.

About the walk: Legacy-building activities will include opportunities to make a fabric square in memory of a child to be included on the 2025 Remembrance Quilt and a scrapbook page for the annual scrapbook. All materials will be provided at the event. There is no cost to attend. Registration includes a wristband for each individual attending, providing all-day admission to the Zoo and Rainforest after the walk. Wristbands will be distributed in front of the Zoo’s main entrance. Remembrance walk participants will have access to the Palava Hut from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. that day. To register, visit https://events.humanitix.com/2025-uh-remembrance-walk or same-day walk-up registration will be available.

Questions or looking for more information? Visit https://linktr.ee/uhbereavement or email Allison Remy, MSSA, LISW, The Joanie and Tom Adler Endowed Director of Parent Bereavement Programs: Allison.Remy@UHhospitals.org or call 216-844-8254.

Special thanks to The Auxiliary of University Hospitals and current sponsors for making this event possible at no cost to families:

• Joan & Tom Atkian
• Nalette & Associates, Inc.

• The Joni H. & Steven L. Wasserman (z”l) Fund for the Future
• Cement Masons Local 404
• Prokop Velky Lodge No. 708

• Ashlie’s Embrace
• The Callan Phillip SIDS Research Fund
• Mentor TV