Adalyn Rose Foundation honors families who have lost their babies.

Oct. 17—Not many people know what it feels like to lose a child. That is why Michelle Knoll of Mohnton is thankful for the Adalyn Rose Foundation.

"Just being able to be around other people who understand what you're going through means so much," Knoll said.

Knoll's oldest son, Hudson, passed away when he was 9 1/2 months old from complications with respiratory syncytial virus and pneumonia, Knoll said.

Sunday morning, Knoll was among the 200 people who turned out for the second annual Empty Stroller 5K at FirstEnergy Stadium to support the Adalyn Rose Foundation. It was a time for community.

Many of the participants pushed empty strollers in honor and memory of their child.

Adam Hoover, Knoll's brother, was pushing an empty stroller and said the foundation provides a community where people can talk about the difficult subject of losing a child.

Knoll agreed.

"They are giving space to talk about our babies that are not here," she said. "They make a huge difference. (Hudson) was actually the second baby we lost. And there was nothing in the community when that happened."

The biggest assistance the foundation gave to Knoll was someone to talk to.

"They know, not exactly what you're going through, but the pain of the loss," she said.

For the organization's founders, Adam and Chloe Ciferri, Sunday was a dream come true.

"We always thought our first event was going to be the Empty Stroller 5K to raise awareness," Adam said. "

"We decided to launch the foundation to help families pay for burial and cremation costs for their babies," Chloe said. "Something that no one should have to pay for, send care packages and create a community."

The foundation was started in 2019 to honor the memory of Adalyn Rose, Adam and Chloe's daughter, who passed away in the womb in September 2017, about three months into the pregnancy.

The idea for the event was Inspired by the loss of their child and a news article they read about a father who ran a marathon with an empty stroller, People would tell the man that his baby is missing from his stroller and he would tell them he knows, Adam and Chloe explained.

That's why when it came time for the Ciferri's to hold their first big in-person event after the COVID-19 pandemic forced last year's event to be held virtually, they wanted to make sure they could properly honor and celebrate those who were lost.

"We want to have this space where people feel safe honoring their babies, celebrating them and remembering them in a positive way and being together," Chloe said.

The day was very emotional and empowering for Adam and Chloe.

"A lot of these families do not have a place to go to honor their baby," Adam said. "They don't have a lifetime of pictures to look at for the babies. To be in a space like this, surrounded by families that have been through something similar helps them grieve and remember."

"You can go to another family and say: 'I see you. You're not alone and we are in this together,'" Chloe said. "Let's keep talking about our babies because they will always matter. They are our children."

The foundation holds events to raise money for funeral costs and care packages that are sent to families that have lost babies. The organization also hosts a support group.

Since being founded in 2019, the foundation has helped over 100 families in Pennsylvania.

The foundation is connected with five hospitals in Pennsylvania as well as several funeral homes.

Chloe admits it can be tough or awkward to ask about infant death but said that stigma needs to end.

"The more awkward we make it, then the people who are already so alone and so isolated feel they are even more alone and isolated," she said. "Yeah, my baby died and it sucks and you're doing everything you can to move forward. You lean on the people you can, and that's why we're here, for people to lean on us."