Emma's Best Day Ever 5K

Virtual
Cookeville, TN 38501

Running > 5k

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Event Description

Emma's Best Day Ever 5K was created to honor Emma Kathryn Heitman and Heart of the Cumberland's Emma's Joy Bear Program and children's programs.

Her Story:

Emma was born on May 9th, 2008. She was the 3rd daughter of Michael and Misty Heitman. Her sisters and brothers loved her so much. She was the peacemaker of the family. She was very nurturing. When her siblings were sad or not well, she was known to bring them stuffed animals to make them feel better. She was a positive little girl. She never complained. She would take ordinary days and say they were the "Best Day Ever!" She wasn't perfect, but she was such a light to all around her. She loved Jesus.

When she was 9 years old, Emma passed away in her sleep unexpectedly due to an intracerebral brain hemorrhage with no real reason as to why. This shattered her family. At her funeral, bears were collected to give to local charities for children to comfort them because her family knew she would love that. At this time, the family got involved with a grief ministry called Heart of the Cumberland. Along with their family and friends, they were instrumental in helping the family to further the healing process. Emma's family will never fully heal, but knowing Emma's legacy lives on in her family as well as the lives that are touched when one of those bears is given to a child to let that child know he/she is not alone, Jesus loves him/her, and he/she will be comforted by the bear they receive.

Her family is so thankful for what the Heart of the Cumberland does, and this is just a small way to give back.

If you want more info on Heart of the Cumberland, please go to their website, https://www.heartofthecumberland.org/

Sponsorship Information:

If you want to become a sponsor for this event and have your business advertised on the back of the t-shirt and social media recognition, please make a $59 tax deductible donation to Heart of the Cumberland (on their website) in honor of Emma Heitman and email emmasbestdayever@gmail.com with that info for shirt addition/recognition by 3/31/2023. Please use that email if you have questions.

Our goal is get 15 sponsorships because she would have turned 15 years old on May 9 of this year. We are totally ok if we go over that though.


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