On Sunday, October 10, 2010 in celebration of National Midwifery Week, nearly 100 midwives and midwife supporters gathered in Golden Gate Park for the 1st Annual San Francisco Miles for Midwives 5k Walk/Run! It was a hugely successful event as we had the opportunity to come together and celebrate midwives and the communities we serve from across the spectrum – home, birth-center and hospital based. It was organized by the local chapter of the American College of Nurse Midwives Chapter 4, Region VI, and Co-sponsored by the California Association of Midwives and California Nurse-Midwives Association.
Folks gathered at Peacock Meadow at 8am and at 8:45 the race began. Prizes were awarded to the first runner, first stroller, first midwife, first walker, first child and first eldest midwife to cross the finish line.
We also had tables providing information to midwives and families which included Traditional Medicinals sharing information about their sampling program for midwife practices, midwife practices from St. Lukes and the San Francsico General Hospital, In Home CPR, CAM, and Amnesty International sharing information about their Deadly Delivery report and important legislation regarding maternal health. Students from the National Holistic Institute provided complimentary massages to participants after the race.
We are excited to announce that we will be donating one-thousand dollars, the proceeds from the event to the Bay Area Midwifery Fund which seeks to increase access to midwifery care for low-income families.
We hope that everyone will consider joining us next year and come together to celebrate our hard work and the lovely families we serve.
