Addie Packs 5K Fundraiser at West Wetlands Park Supports Families of Critically Ill Children

Six years after Addison Tams died from a congenital heart defect, the Yuma nonprofit founded in her memory will hold its annual Run & Walk for Addie at West Wetlands Park on April 18, a 5K fundraiser that directly finances comfort supplies and travel support for local families navigating pediatric medical crises.

Addie Packs, named for Addison, known as Addie, delivers backpacks stocked with blankets, stuffed animals, toiletries, gift cards and hospital resource information to families enduring long hospital stays or costly medical travel. Funds raised through the 5K go toward purchasing those supplies and offsetting travel and lodging costs for families who must leave Yuma for pediatric specialty care, a routine hardship in a region far from major children's hospitals.

The event at West Wetlands Park, 282 N. 12th Avenue, begins with onsite registration at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K course starts at 9:30 a.m. Adult registration runs $35, children's registration is $25, and families can register together for $100. Participants can pre-register by texting "Addiewalk" to 76278 or by reaching Addie Packs directly at addiepacks@gmail.com. Organizers are encouraging participants to form teams to boost individual fundraising totals.

Alongside the race, the morning includes raffles, refreshments and family-friendly activities. Local businesses can participate through sponsorship opportunities listed on the organizer's event pages.

Addie Tams was born with a congenital heart defect and passed away in 2020. From that loss, Addie Packs built a nonprofit around the practical and emotional gaps that surface when a child's illness demands extended time away from home. The pack-backs the organization assembles, stocked with items chosen for both comfort and utility, reach families at some of their most vulnerable moments.

With Phoenix and other major pediatric centers hours away, a fundraiser rooted at one of Yuma's most familiar outdoor spaces carries real weight for the families Addie Packs serves.