It was a strong turnout for the second year of the Walk for Megan and AFE Awareness, in Battleford. (Submitted photo/Vistara Sidebottom)

By Martin Martinson

AFE Awareness

‘It means the world’: Family, friends gather for second annual Walk for Megan

Sep 20, 2023 | 9:59 AM

The 2^nd Annual Walk for Megan and Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE) Awareness took place over the weekend in Battleford, in memory of Battlefords local, Megan Burnett (Phillips).

Burnett passed away during labour in 2016, due to an amniotic fluid embolism, an extremely rare, but life-threatening complication that affects pregnant women shortly before, during, or immediately following labour and childbirth.

Close to 50 people came out for the second year of the walk, started by Megan’s mother, Debbie Sidebottom and longtime friend, Chelsey Penley, to commemorate Megan’s life and bring awareness for AFE.

Sidebottom said the support around the event again this year “means the world” to the family.

“I want her memory always to be shared and for our family, it’s a way for us all to get together with friends and just to celebrate her life,” Megan’s mother said. “For us to get together and share stories with her friends and people who knew her is very heartfelt.”

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The walk, which is roughly a mile, started at the rotunda on the Battlefords walkway down by the river, passing a commemorative bench in Megan’s honour, then up through a small part of Battleford, and back to the rotunda, where there was a lunch for people to share in fellowship and reminisce on memories of times spent with Megan before heading on their way.

The walk raised over $1,000 this year, with proceeds going towards the local figure skating club, which Megan was a longtime member of, and the AFE Foundation, an international non-profit program established in 2008 by an AFE survivor, supporting families and clinicians impacted by amniotic fluid embolism by providing resources, educational materials and more.

“Women lose their lives every single day to AFE and with awareness, hopefully, we can at least lessen, if not eradicate this awful condition which changes what should have been a time of celebration for families into a time of grief and loss,” Megan’s aunt, Vistara Sidebottom said.

“The ripple effect is huge. It touches the whole community.”

In addition to those who gathered in Battleford, there were others who joined in walking a course of their own and/or contributing donations in Megan’s name from other Saskatchewan communities and places far beyond, including England, Australia, and Japan.

To learn more about AFE or to make a donation, visit the AFE website.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1