They say it takes a village to raise a child, but I believe it takes a village of other moms to raise a mother. Moms who are looking out for each other’s overall wellbeing and are all too familiar with the exhaustion and bliss that surrounds raising offspring.
Annie Murray, a Coronado resident and mother of two young boys (ages two and a half and four and a half), is one of those moms who is doing just that – raising awareness in her village of maternal health in support of the organization Every Mother Counts (EMC). On Saturday, May 12, 2018, Murray, in partnership with Every Mother Counts and the Post-Partum Health Alliance of San Diego, is hosting a Maternal Health Event to Benefit Every Mother Counts.
EMC is dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother, everywhere. Its mission is to inform, engage and mobilize audiences to take actions and raise funds that support maternal health programs around the world.
“I have always loved how Coronado values families, so I know that its commitment to maternal health runs deep,” says Murray. “It’s important to host this event in my village because it takes all of us in the community to support one another and lift each other up.”
Did you know that 303,000 women die every year from complications during pregnancy and childbirth? That’s one woman every two minutes. According to the EMC website, the United States has higher rates of maternal deaths than 45 other countries and cites our current maternal health crisis is due to provider shortages, racial and socioeconomic disparities, lack of insurance, chronic conditions, and over-medicalization.
“Over half of all maternal deaths in the U.S. can be prevented. It is important to raise awareness and learn from people in our community, because that is where real change occurs. Having these discussions allows us to feel more connected to our village and the people in it. And it can be a way to pay it forward and enact change,” says Murray.
The event will be held on May 12 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am at Vintage Village Theatre, located at 820 Orange Ave, Coronado.
“What better way to celebrate mothers on Mother’s Day weekend – by growing awareness to maternal health issues in the U.S. and our community,” says Murray.
Murray, who openly shared her harrowing postpartum experience with The Coronado Times last year in hopes of educating readers and generating action, encourages everyone in her village to attend the all-inclusive event. “This isn’t an event just for mothers. If you have not gone through a serious complication yourself, you likely know someone who has,” says Murray.
Following a light champagne-optional brunch and select screening of CNN’s and Every Mother Count’s series “Giving Birth in America,” participants will have an opportunity to engage and ask questions of community-based maternal medical and mental health providers – and meet others who value the health and well-being of mothers and babies.
Raffle prizes from Billie Blooms, J. Crew, TOMS, and Barre3, among others, will be awarded during the charity benefit. Murray has already garnered support from several local business, including: Panera Bread and Clayton’s Coffee Shop. Both eateries are generously donating food and beverages to the event on May 12.
While there is no cost to attend the benefit, a suggested donation of $20 is encouraged. All proceeds will go directly to Every Mother Counts. Tickets can be purchased online prior to the event by clicking on this link, but will also be available at the door.
