Over the last 15 years, The Cooper Life Fund has donated more than $191,500 to the Terrebonne General Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This year, the 16th Annual Super Cooper 5K and one mile fun run is scheduled for March 26 at Pinocchio’s Pizza Playhouse on Prevost Drive in Houma. The event is hosted by John and Ashley Fontenot of the Cooper Life Fund, and raises money for families of newborn infants born with serious medical conditions and who are admitted to Terrebonne General's Level III NICU.
All proceeds from the Super Cooper 5K are donated to The Foundation for Terrebonne General to provide medical and social care needs for the families of infants admitted to the Terrebonne General NICU with serious medical conditions. The fund provides families with a care package filled with necessities for their NICU infants, such as gas cards, car seats, lodging vouchers, and other items.
“Ashley and John Fontenot have been a true inspiration to our Women’s Health Center for the active role they have played in the lives of parents who have had babies that need advanced care in the NICU,” said Phyllis Peoples, president and CEO. “We are grateful that they are a part of our Terrebonne General family and for all that they continue to do to support NICU families.”
John and Ashley Fontenot founded the Cooper Life Fund after their son, Cooper, was born with a congenital heart defect called transposition of the great vessels. Cooper spent many weeks in the hospital and endured several hours of open-heart surgery when he was only nine days old. Cooper is alive and well today because of advanced medical care and extensive cardiovascular research.
“Our Foundation, Cooper Life Fund, is an extension of the amazing community that we live in. God had a plan when we moved here from Lafayette in 2006. We quickly learned that this area is made up of caring people with a love for one another and huge hearts without an ounce of selfishness. We are truly blessed to be surrounded by such incredible people. Our community is the reason why we have had 15 wonderful years and are now preparing for our 16th Annual Super Cooper 5K here in Houma. We look forward to another great event, and to many more in the future.” said John Fontenot, Cooper Life Fund president.
For more information on the Cooper Life Fund and the Super Cooper 5K visit https://www.cooperlifefund.org/sc22.