You may have seen City Hall lit with red lights this week. That's because Airdrie is observing Quinn's Legacy Week until Saturday (August 20) to raise awareness around Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Sarah Cormier explained that Quinn's Legacy came into existence after her daughter Quinn passed away suddenly at the age of four months on December 28, 2014.

"She passed away in her sleep, and it was determined that it was an undetermined death, formally called SIDS. About a week after her passing, I went down to Service Canada to find out if my maternity benefits would still be intact, and found out that they were terminated."

Cormier was told she would have to return to work within a week. Based on that personal experience, Quinn's Legacy was born as a way to raise money in order to support families that have lost a child suddenly and give them the time and ability to grieve.

City Council declared this week Quinn's Legacy Week at their July 4 meeting. Cormier said that they've found a great supporter in Mayor Peter Brown, who suggested declaring this same week as Quinn's Legacy Week last year.

"He said, 'Oh, it'd be great to have a proclamation and City Hall lit up in red.' Red's her colour. So we asked for it again this year, and it was, hands down, passed just like that. It's awesome to see City Hall in red and to see the support from the City."

Cormier said they want to use the week to raise awareness about SIDS, and also to commemorate Quinn and other children that have passed suddenly and the impact they made in their short lives.

"You don't think it's going to happen to you, you don't think that it's going to happen in your community, to your friends, to your family, and it happened to us so it can happen to anyone. We're just kinda bringing the awareness that it happens in your community and to people that you know and to parents who do everything right."

The week will culminate in a run on Saturday to raise money for families that are grieving after losing a child.

 

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