Our Vision
To support Ottawa and area families who have experienced infertility, a loss during pregnancy or the loss of an infant.
Pregnancy is supposed to be a time of excitement and anticipation of the future. Unfortunately, pregnancy and infant loss (also known as perinatal loss) affects 1 in 4 women as well as their partners and families. Perinatal loss is defined as the death of an infant during pregnancy or soon thereafter. These losses are devastating and it can be hard for others to understand the magnitude of grief that accompanies these losses. In addition, it can be extremely difficult for people to even become pregnant. Infertility affects 1 in 6 Canadians.
It all began in 2017 as Aaron's Butterfly Run, the first charity run of its kind in Ottawa and surrounding area. The run was created to raise awareness and support for the parents and families who have experienced devastating loss. All proceeds from this event are donated to Roger Neilson Children's Hospice and due to the success of its first year, we held the 2nd annual Butterfly Run Ottawa honouring Charlotte and Théo in 2018. We received an overwhelming response from our ever-growing community and are proud to announce that in 2019 the 3rd annual Butterfly Run Ottawa raised a staggering $95,000. The momentum was the strongest it had ever been until the global pandemic hit and turned the world upside down. While we weren't sure what the future held, we were sure that this community needed us so we decided to make the 4th annual Butterfly Run Ottawa a virtual event, in an attempt to continue increasing awareness and support to this community as well as the hope to raise a small amount during a difficult time. Amazingly, this community rallied together to raise an incredible $80,000 in a year of chaos and uncertainty. We are extremely excited to begin the planning for the 7th annual Butterfly Run Ottawa so stay tuned for more information and details!
To everyone who has participated and/or donated to this event, thank you. Thank you for being there to support each other through the devastating reality of losing a pregnancy or an infant, or who struggle with infertility. Together, we are ensuring that our community has the resources to provide parents and families with the care they so desperately need.
It all began in 2017 as Aaron's Butterfly Run, the first charity run of its kind in Ottawa and surrounding area. The run was created to raise awareness and support for the parents and families who have experienced devastating loss. All proceeds from this event are donated to Roger Neilson Children's Hospice and due to the success of its first year, we held the 2nd annual Butterfly Run Ottawa honouring Charlotte and Théo in 2018. We received an overwhelming response from our ever-growing community and are proud to announce that in 2019 the 3rd annual Butterfly Run Ottawa raised a staggering $95,000. The momentum was the strongest it had ever been until the global pandemic hit and turned the world upside down. While we weren't sure what the future held, we were sure that this community needed us so we decided to make the 4th annual Butterfly Run Ottawa a virtual event, in an attempt to continue increasing awareness and support to this community as well as the hope to raise a small amount during a difficult time. Amazingly, this community rallied together to raise an incredible $80,000 in a year of chaos and uncertainty. We are extremely excited to begin the planning for the 7th annual Butterfly Run Ottawa so stay tuned for more information and details!
To everyone who has participated and/or donated to this event, thank you. Thank you for being there to support each other through the devastating reality of losing a pregnancy or an infant, or who struggle with infertility. Together, we are ensuring that our community has the resources to provide parents and families with the care they so desperately need.
The Meaning Behind Our Butterfly Logo
The butterfly is a symbol of transformation, of the spirit and the soul, and of the unending cycle of life and death. For many of us, butterflies are a symbol of the children we have lost. The metamorphosis of the butterfly is a powerful symbol in so many ways for those who are grieving. They are the beautiful tiny spark of life that came to us, lighted our lives for just a moment before fluttering away. They are the hope that the transformation that loss brings into our lives can result in something different, something beautiful. We may not be the same through this journey, but we have grown, and we are able to see things that we could not before. The logo for the Butterfly Run Ottawa was inspired by the footprints of Aaron Samulack, who spent 100 precious minutes with his family after birth. At maternity wards in many hospitals, when a family experiences the loss of a baby a purple butterfly is taped to the door to let staff entering the room know. The colours of the logo were chosen with this in mind and also represent the complexity of the emotions of loss.
The butterfly is a symbol of transformation, of the spirit and the soul, and of the unending cycle of life and death. For many of us, butterflies are a symbol of the children we have lost. The metamorphosis of the butterfly is a powerful symbol in so many ways for those who are grieving. They are the beautiful tiny spark of life that came to us, lighted our lives for just a moment before fluttering away. They are the hope that the transformation that loss brings into our lives can result in something different, something beautiful. We may not be the same through this journey, but we have grown, and we are able to see things that we could not before. The logo for the Butterfly Run Ottawa was inspired by the footprints of Aaron Samulack, who spent 100 precious minutes with his family after birth. At maternity wards in many hospitals, when a family experiences the loss of a baby a purple butterfly is taped to the door to let staff entering the room know. The colours of the logo were chosen with this in mind and also represent the complexity of the emotions of loss.
www.butterflyrunottawa.ca