The 2017 Celebrate Life 5K is moving to the "Crown Jewel" of St. Louis, Forest Park.
Mid-America Transplant announced the new location and a reschedule date of July 23 last week. The date change was prompted by severe weather in the area the morning of the original April date. A new location was necessitated by the overwhelming response in registrations for the second annual event.
Celebrate Life 5K Run/Walk Details
“Forest Park is such an important part of the St. Louis region,” said Nicole Kellen, director of donor and family services. “It showcases the area’s major cultural institutions, and this summer it provides a beautiful backdrop for honoring donors and their families. By moving the event to Forest Park, we have ample space and parking to allow for more growth in the future, which is exciting!”
In 2016, about 800 people signed up for the inaugural Celebrate Life 5K Run/Walk at Creve Coeur Lake Park. This spring, more than 1,600 people registered for the event. Our hope in April was to use grass field near the Treymayne Shelter as overflow parking. The weather wouldn’t allow for that.
Typically, rescheduling an event like the 2017 Celebrate Life 5K Run/Walk would require finding a new open date at the same location. In this case, we sought a new location that could accommodate the Celebrate Life 5K Run/Walk into a busy summer schedule. We’re excited to have found a date at Forest Park.
Honoring Donors in Beautiful Forest Park
The Festival and Parking Plaza, better known as The Upper Muny Lot, has a large parking lot capable of holding about 1,000 vehicles surrounded by mature trees in green space where we will remember and honor the heroic donors for whom we walk and run. After the event families can explore some of the amazing attractions within Forest Park like the Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis Science Center and James S. McDonnell Planetarium, Missouri History Museum, The Muny or enjoy a picnic at one of the park’s many scenic locations. “Families can also choose to visit our Donor Memorial Monument which is located near the park in the Highlands Plaza,” Kellen said. “The monument is in an open green space with a calming water feature where families can remember, share stories and provide hope to others.”
The Donor Memorial Monument is a 12-foot bronze sculpture standing in honor of organ and tissue donors and their families.
The Donor Memorial Monument is located near Mid-America Transplant’s offices just across Interstate 64/Highway 40 from Forest Park. The Monument stands in honor of organ and tissue donors and their families. The Donor Memorial Monument was designed to host special memorial events for families throughout the years. However, we encourage all donor families to visit the monument and park privately or with family and friends, as it was created specifically for them as a sacred place to remember and honor their loved ones.