On Sept. 18, Why I am Walking in the New England Walk of Hope for the Infertility Community

On Sunday, September 18, hundreds of men and women will be joining RESOLVE New England and RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association for the second annual Walk of Hope at the Endicott Estate in Dedham. Both organizations are nonprofits dedicated to education, support and advocacy for people living with infertility who are trying to build their families.

The Walk of Hope is the groups’ signature fundraising event: one morning to walk one mile to unite one community. The Walk of Hope recognizes the many ways in which families are built, supports local support services and programs for the 312,000 women and men living with infertility in New England, and raises public understanding of how the disease of infertility impacts families.

For the second year, Kerri Kivolowitz of Arlington is the Walk’s chair. In her own words, she expresses why she is walking and what the Walk means to her and her family.

When we started out, my husband and I were ready and excited to build our family - a little scared, but still blissfully unaware of the realities that lay ahead of us: heartbreak, depression, isolation, loss of privacy, invasive testing and procedures, and the insult to injury that is mounting medical debt.

During that difficult time, I discovered a local RESOLVE support group, and met other men and women who actually understood the path I was on; who showed me that I wasn’t alone. Now, I volunteer with RESOLVE New England as a support group leader for their General Infertility and Pregnancy After Infertility groups in Waltham.

It is sometimes painful to relive my own infertility battle, while supporting others still fighting theirs, but it is also a joy and gift being able to show others that they are not alone; and that their feelings and fears are shared and understood.

When people come to our group, there is always someone there to listen to them - without judgment - no matter how dark a place they are in.

I am so proud to be part of RESOLVE New England and part of the New England Walk of Hope. I walk to honor my children and the journey that made me a mother. I walk for myself and my husband and the challenges we overcame together, and I walk for those still waiting and hoping, so they know they are not alone.

The New England Walk of Hope is looking for walkers and volunteers for this important, inspirational and fun event. If you or someone you know is part of the 1 in 8 who suffer from the disease of infertility, please consider joining us on September 18. For more information, visit www.resolve.org/newenglandwalk or www.resolvenewengland.org.