Forget-Me-Not’s Elephant Run key for funding support

Elephants have good memories. Sara Ringle wants to make sure people do too.

Going on two decades ago, Ringle created the Forget-Me-Not Baskets, which led to creation of the Elephant Run. That, in the time since, has grown into one of the area’s biggest charity events.

Ringle runs Forget-Me-Not, a nonprofit that provides grief support, comfort and remembrance items to families who experienced a loss during pregnancy or childbirth. It serves more than 65 area hospitals and OB offices. It uses the elephant as its logo to remind people that, just like elephants, we never forget those lost.

“We just stumbled upon an unmet need, honestly,” Ringle said.

That was in 2007. Ringle donated a single basket to a local hospital. The nurses there gave it to a grieving parent and quickly requested another. From there it grew.

Forget-Me-Not has given away more than 11,000 baskets and now runs the annual Elephant Run, which will be held July 27 at the University of Akron’s Wayne College in Orrville.

“This year we’re already past last year, so we’re super excited,” Ringle said. “Last year we had 988 (entrants). What brings people back is our race is so much more than a race. It’s an experience. It’s a day of remembrance for a lot of people.”

As of July 9, 92 spots remained open for the Elephant Run, 17 were left for Steven Michael’s Mile and 35 were open for Gianna’s Fun Run. The Elephant Run sold out last year, and more than 1,000 already have entered this year.

Steven Michael’s Mile and Gianna’s Fun Run are named for babies who were lost.

“Their parents sponsored races,” Ringle said. “Those families are huge supporters of Forget-Me-Not, and they’re like, ‘Hey, we want our child’s name up there. We want to help you fundraise, and we want to honor our child.’”

The Elephant Run/Walk is $39 to enter, Steven Michael’s Mile is $35 and Gianna’s Fun Run is $10. There also is a virtual race at no cost.

The Elephant Run is a 5k run/walk beginning at 8:45 a.m. Steven Michael’s Mile will kick off at 8:15 a.m. Gianna’s Fun Run, open to runners age 7 and under, will start at 8 a.m. Runners can register at www.trisignup.com/raceinfo. Registration will end July 19 at 11:59 a.m., except for the virtual race, which has no end time.

Entrants will receive a shirt for the race; shirts are optional for Gianna’s Fun Run. Additional shirts are available for purchase. Signs to be placed along the race route also can be purchased.

There is a fundraising option available. Anyone who raises $100 or more will have their race entry refunded.

Ringle never experienced a loss during a pregnancy or childbirth. She was part of a group of moms who wanted to give back and found a niche. She said in spite of all the sadness associated with the event and Forget-Me-Not, she is never overcome by it.

“Does it get to me? No. Is it sad? Absolutely,” she said. “The fact that we come into families, we’re acknowledging them, acknowledging their baby and giving them support.”

Forget-Me-Not has become successful in its mission and exists under the reality that a perfect day for the business would be the one that meant the company had no more reason to exist.

“Every time we drop baskets off at a hospital, we always say, ‘We hope these get dusty,’ which means, ‘We hope you don’t need them anymore,’” she said. “If we went out of business, that would be the best day.”