Walk To Remember FAQ

In 1988, former President Ronald Reagan declared the month of October as National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month. To commemorate this declaration, many infant loss organizations across the country, such as M.E.N.D., host what is known as a "Walk to Remember."  Unlike the name may imply, the Walk is not a fundraiser, nor a "walk-a-thon." Instead, it is a beautiful ceremony to remember our babies who have died.  M.E.N.D. is hosting our annual Walk To Remember in Irving, TX (Dallas / Fort Worth metropolitan area) on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at 1 p.m. at Calvary Church.

Beginning at 11:30 a.m., our team will be ready to assist you for check in and ornament pick up. You will also be able to visit the raffle, M.E.N.D. Shop, memory tables, food trucks and craft area until the Walk begins at 1:00 p.m.

Is there a fee to participate in the Walk?

No. M.E.N.D. is proud to offer all of our services and ceremonies at no cost to the families that participate.  Donations are accepted and appreciated at any time throughout the year.  Donors who give  $25 or more prior to September 22, 2023 will be considered as a sponsor of the Walk to Remember and will be acknowledged in the Walk program.  Family sponsorship levels are available as detailed on the donation page.

Can family members and friends come to the Walk with me?

Absolutely. Children are welcome and we highly recommend that babies and toddlers are in strollers.  Please only register for the number of people old enough to sit in their own seat and have their own balloon(s).  

Why do I need to register for the Walk?

Because M.E.N.D. is a 501(c)(3) funded solely by donations, we need your help to ensure we are stewarding our donations with care.  The cost for us to honor each baby at the Walk to Remember is approximately $40-$50 per baby. We provide a special ornament with your baby's name and birth / death date on it. One ornament per baby is given to each family. You may place this ornament on one of the M.E.N.D. trees at the designated time during the ceremony. Following the ceremony, it is yours to remove from the tree and keep. Additionally, we provide seating for our guests, so it is important to let us know how many people will be with you so we know how many chairs to set up. The Walk concludes with a beautiful balloon release in which each person attending the Walk will receive one balloon for each baby they are representing, and the balloons are color specific according to the gender of the baby. For example, pink for a girl, blue for a boy, and white if the gender is unknown.

NOTE: The Walk to Remember is an event to remember babies lost to miscarriage, stillbirth, or early infant death (up to 1-year of age.) Please help us be good stewards of the donations made to our ministry by not registering to remember older children or adults. Thank you for your assistance in ensuring our donations are dedicated to supporting infant loss families.

How long does the Walk last?

The duration of the ceremony (beginning with the actual short distance walked until the balloon release) is between 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours.

How far is the actual Walk?

Not far at all. The Walk is a quiet time of reflection and consists of walking from the church, across the parking lot, to the designated area where the ceremony is held. The Walk is very slow-paced as families remember their babies.

How do I order a 2023 commemorative T-Shirt?

M.E.N.D. offers commemorative t-shirts for each Walk to Remember.  T-shirts are $20 each and can be ordered online at the time you register for the Walk to Remember.  

We encourage all shirts to be pre-ordered as only limited amounts will be available at the Walk this year.  All pre-ordered t-shirts will be picked up in The M.E.N.D. Shop at the Walk To Remember. Pre-order payment is accepted through PayPal, but it is not necessary to have a PayPal account to complete the purchase. Pre-orders will be accepted through September 15th.

Please note, the only way to guarantee a commemorative t-shirt is to pre-order.  Any extra t-shirts will be available at the Walk to Remember on a first come, first serve basis in The M.E.N.D. Shop.  At the Walk, we accept cash, check, and all major credit cards.

What are the Memory Signs?

Personalized Memory Signs are available for $50 with your baby's name and DOB/DOD.  Signs must be ordered by September 1st. All signs ordered will be displayed along the pathway for the Walk. The signs are yours to keep to take home at the conclusion of the Walk. M.E.N.D. will gladly reserve a place for your sign for subsequent annual Walks for an additional $25 donation each year. Please do not attach any sort of decorations or adornments to your sign.

If you have a Memory Sign from a previous year, you will need to drop off your sign, along with a $25 donation to M.E.N.D., at one of several area locations. Click here to find a drop-off location near you. If you choose to drop it off at the M.E.N.D. support group location, the ONLY time you may do this is on a support group night.

What if I have registered for The Walk and the number of people I registered as attending has changed — or I am now unable to attend?

Please do not register again. Instead, please contact Rebekah Mitchell to report your updated information.

What if I registered for the Walk and I am unable to attend - do I still receive my ornament?

Priority goes to the families who actually attend the Walk, not necessarily to those who register. If we need extra ornaments for those who attend the Walk but did not register before the online registration is closed and we run out of extra ornaments, we will begin to disassemble the unclaimed ornaments and personalize them for those who attend (a good reason to arrive early to check in).

If you registered for the Walk, but were unable to attend, and if we still have your personalized ornament, we will gladly mail your ornament for a $10 per ornament shipping and handling fee. Please email rebekah@mend.org after October 10 to see if we still have your ornament. Unclaimed ornaments will only be made available for two weeks following the Walk.

What do I need to do the day of The Walk?

Beginning at 11:30 a.m., our team will be ready to assist you for check in and ornament pick up. You will also be able to visit the raffle, M.E.N.D. Shop, memory tables, food trucks and craft area until the Walk begins at 1:00 p.m.

Wear casual, comfortable clothes that are conducive to the weather.  Many families wear the M.E.N.D. Walk t-shirt or have personalized shirts made in memory of their baby.

Items to consider bringing to the Walk:

• Items for the memory tables (optional)

• Permanent marker to write on balloons

• Umbrella in case of light rain. In the event of severe weather, the Walk will be moved inside the main building of the church.

• Cash and credit cards if you wish to make purchases at the raffle, food trucks, and in The M.E.N.D. Shop.

What is the Raffle?

Although the Walk to Remember is not a fundraising event, we do host a large raffle to help offset the expenses of the ceremony. There are several tables full of items, such as restaurant and department store gift certificates, sporting events, health and beauty gift cards and discounts, etc. The raffle tables will open at 11:30 a.m. and will close just before the Walk begins. The raffle will NOT re-open following the ceremony. At the Walk, we accept cash, check, and all major credit cards.

Winners of the raffle will be posted at the conclusion of the ceremony in the parking lot and at the raffle table in the foyer of the MAIN BUILDING. We strongly request you stay so we do not have to contact you and arrange for you to receive your winnings; however, it is not necessary to be present to claim your item(s). 

What do I bring to display on the Memory Table?

In the foyer of the church, we have tables set up for you to display items in honor of your baby.  Families bring photos, shadow boxes, stuffed animals, scrapbooks, etc. to set up on the tables and share with others.  We offer small cards you can fill out to tell others your baby’s name, DOB/DOD, and write a little note of love.  Bringing items for the Memory Tables is optional and there is no cost to display items.  Please be sure to claim your items at the conclusion of the ceremony. 

Will there be food available for sale?

Yes. Food trucks will be available onsite and open from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Please be sure to make your purchase and consume all food prior to entering the Walk ceremony area.

What can I do while waiting for the Walk to begin?

Visit the raffle, M.E.N.D. Shop, memory tables, or create a craft. There will be a couple of craft areas for families to make memory items. All items will need to be taken with you or picked up after the Walk to Remember or they will be discarded.  Sorry, we cannot store or mail these items for you. 

How can I order a brick to be placed in the Garden of Hope?

Bricks in the Garden of Hope are installed once a year just before the Walk to Remember each October. Unfortunately due to supply and logistics issues this year, the 2023 brick orders have already closed so that we have time to get the bricks installed prior to the 2023 Walk to Remember. The 2024 brick orders will open at the Walk and be available on our webpage under Garden of Hope until the middle of next summer.    

For Additional Questions

Please contact Rebekah Mitchell. 

PHOTOGRAPHY NOTICE:  Please be aware that professional photographers will be onsite during the ceremony and that your photo, if taken, could be used in M.E.N.D. marketing materials.  No compensation will be given to individuals whose photos are used.