Ladybug Run for CDH Awareness

Ladybug Run for CDH Awareness An annual 5k/10K, and Kids 1 mile, Run and Walk to raise CDH Awareness on 7/11/2026 in Tigard, OR Finley was in the fortunate 50% that survive.

The inspiration for this race is the Race Directors daughter Finley. At their 20 week ultrasound appointment Wednesday March 31st 2010 (ironically CDH Awareness Day), they were thrilled to get the news that they were having another girl. That news was quickly overshadowed by the fact that the baby had a serious complication. Their unborn child had a left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (this

happens in one in about every 2,500 births - roughly 1,600 cases in the U.S. each year) which means the diaphragm did not close entirely when it was supposed to and some of the lower organs (in our case; stomach, intestines, and spleen) were up where they shouldn't be. As a result, the lungs wouldn't grow to normal size and Finley was at risk for a laundry list of complications that ended with the statement that she had about a 40-50% chance of survival. It took 19 days to stabilize her for repair surgery and after another 30 days more in the NICU, she was finally able to come home. But then there are about 800 babies in the US who die each year from this defect. Because this birth defect is rare and not commonly known, it does not have the funding that other more widely known birth defects attract. All money raised by this race will go toward to the Ladybug CDH Foundation which will give funds to both on-going research and to assist families with a child with CDH in the hospital. Hospital expenses average from $500,000 - $1M+ which means families can be bankrupted by CDH. Some families travel thousands of miles to deliver at a hospital such as Randall Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel which is equipped to care for a CDH baby. This means incurring additional expenses of travel, housing, and food. Then, imagine having those expenses and also having to cover a funeral? Or for those fortunate children who do come home, costs include at-home nursing, oxygen support, feeding tubes, and numerous medicines. The Ladybug Run will help these families. Please join us in walking or running in celebration of the survivors, in memory of the angels, and in support of those expecting...

Why Is This Race Called Ladybug Run? At the Randall Emanuel Children's Hospital (the old building) the section of the NICU where the sickest babies who needed ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) were kept was called Ladybug. The isolette in Ladybug 3 is where Finley spent her first 19 days of life.

A BIG Thank you to Mike Hosken for taking photos this year at the race!! Please check out his website!!
08/14/2026

A BIG Thank you to Mike Hosken for taking photos this year at the race!! Please check out his website!!

If you haven't seen them already - the photos from 2026 are LIVE! Thank you Mike Hosken!!
08/14/2026

If you haven't seen them already - the photos from 2026 are LIVE! Thank you Mike Hosken!!

From RD Liz:Every year after the opening remarks at Ladybug Run, I think about all the things I wished I had said. How t...
07/12/2026

From RD Liz:

Every year after the opening remarks at Ladybug Run, I think about all the things I wished I had said. How there is so much more I wanted to say, but I am balancing the fact that people didn't come for a TED talk and just want to run, but I want to educate and share and help people understand why the funding is desperately needed for CDH families and research, and have so many thoughts and feelings.. and I end up saying just a sliver of what's inside.

I wish I would have shared how we used funds this past year to help cover funeral expenses, and helped families who wanted to travel to hospitals out of state. That we donated $60,000 across various CDH research projects. How we are paying for families who need hotel rooms when they travel for medical appointments, or when they have to relocate early before giving birth and insurance won't cover yet.

I wish I could have shared that even though the survival rates look like they are improving, we have connected with more loss parents than survivor parents in the last 2 years. So statistics don't mean anything- they are numbers and not lives affected. Each life lost is catastrophic to those families and I dream of a day when this is no longer a "life-threatening" birth defect, because my own daughter has a 50% chance of having a baby born with defect.

I wish I would have remembered to thank the amazing humans that help put on Ladybug Run for CDH Awareness and selflessly spent months working on getting things ready, getting sponsors and donations and making calls and some of them CDH parents who work through the whole event and don't really get to enjoy the day. I see you and thank you all so much. I am so appreciative. You are rockstars.

I wish I would have asked for more help. We need more people to step up and help on the race committee next year. Many hands make light work, and there were areas that we didn't have covered well this year (my fault) and we could really used some more people helping. It doesn't take much time, we need need more help. Join the committee!! It's fun - I promise!!!
Every year I am just so thankful for another year of this event. 15 years is a huge landmark for any event- but especially a race. The day is so special, not just because we get to move our bodies another day, but because we are there as ONE community, celebrating and grieving together.

I wish I could have hugged every person there. But I hope you all know - that I appreciate you and appreciate the love, support and care that we have received since the moment of Finley's diagnosis. This foundation and event exists because of the people that were God's hands and feet to us, so we could turn around and help multiply that back.

So much I could still say, but I'll just finish with THANK YOU.

07/11/2026

Mystery solved!! The woman was actually meant to be grabbing the 5k walk overall medal for a family member, but was given the 5k run medal instead, and then the left without realizing the mistake. She has generously offered to mail the medal to the winner!

So at the awards ceremony this morning, a woman claimed the 5K Open 1st place medal and said she knew the winner - the actual winner actually came up a few moments later and did not know that woman and we couldn't find her.

If you accidentally claimed the Female 5K Open 1st medal- can you DM us and return it? The actual winner would like her medal.

We are so thankful for Hoffman Construction Company’s continued support since our very first year!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
07/11/2026

We are so thankful for Hoffman Construction Company’s continued support since our very first year!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Virtual Runners in Minneapolis!
07/11/2026

Virtual Runners in Minneapolis!

07/10/2026

We do still need volunteers and you can still register for the race tomorrow at 7am at Cook Park!

Would still love more helpers for Saturday- even if you can't help in the morning - we also need help breaking down afte...
07/09/2026

Would still love more helpers for Saturday- even if you can't help in the morning - we also need help breaking down after the race, unloading at our storage unit off Denny, and at the ORRC storage unit off TV highway... any help is greatly appreciated!!

The Ladybug Run for CDH Awareness 5K/10K is on Saturday July 11, 2026. It includes the following events: 5K Run, 10K Run, Kids 1/2 or 1 Mile (Untimed), Diaper Dash, Virtual 5K, Virtual 10K, 5K Walk, 10K Relay, and Virtual Kid Race (10 and under).

07/07/2026

ARE YOU EXCITED?

WE ARE!

Just 5 days until race day!!

Temps are looking perfect. Beer and Wine will be chilled. will be hot (or cold if you so desire), there will be music in the air and many PRs will be achieved.

Survivors will be celebrated, and those gone too soon will be remembered and cherished.

There are still spots if you want to register. Online closes tomorrow night - and you can register at packet pick up locations, or on race morning. Can't wait to see you!

07/04/2026

Address

Portland, OR
97225

Telephone

+15036809826

Website

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