Clara Lynn Depies

On December 4, 2014 Brad and Anna Depies’ worst fear as parents had come true. Their sweet two year old daughter, Clara, had passed away in her sleep. Never did they think that when they put their beautiful and happy toddler down for the night, that it would be the last time they ever saw her alive.They were left with no answers as to why Clara never woke up.

Clara’s death was ruled Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC), which occurs when an apparently healthy child beyond the age of 12 months dies without warning and without a known cause. Soon after their loss they learned of the SUDC Foundation, which provided them with crucial support services, information and access to research. Being able to talk to others who have experienced SUDC helped them to not feel so alone. The SUDC Foundation was created in 2001 as part of a larger non-profit. Today it is its own foundation and is the only organization worldwide that is devoted solely to supporting families affected by SUDC and advocating for SUDC research to find answers for these unexplained losses. While the SUDC Foundation is making progress, much work and attention needs to be focused on this cause.

Brad and Anna created The Clara Depies Memorial in memory of their daughter, to raise awareness of SUDC, and to hopefully help develop a future in which SUDC does not exist. Their third event-but their first run/walk, The Clara Depies Memorial Bierhaus Run, will take place on Saturday, June 17, 2017, at The Bavarian Bierhaus.