On Monday, June 14, 2010, John and Ashley Fontenot, the founders of the Cooper Life Fund along with their sons Cooper and Remy, presented a check in the amount of $11,000.00 to Terrebonne General Medical Center (TGMC) which will be used to assist families of children who receive health care services at TGMC's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The funds were raised from the 4th Annual Super Cooper 5K Heart Run which was held at The Workout Co on March 27th in Houma.

The TGMC Women's Center NICU is the proud recipient of all proceeds from the race, which was started in 2005 in honor of Cooper Fontenot. To date a total of $52,500.00 has been graciously presented by Cooper Life Fund to the hospital's NICU. John and Ashley Fontenot founded the organization after their son Cooper was born with a congenital heart defect in 2004, and underwent open heart surgery when he was only 9 days old. Their goal was to raise money to aid families of children born with serious medical issues.

"Although Cooper Life Fund organizes and manages the Super Cooper events, which in itself is a huge task, the credit goes out to our very gracious sponsors," says Fontenot. He continued, "The families in NICU receive benefits from our race mostly in part due to the contributions made from our sponsors. They certainly deserve most of the credit and the recognition. We ask everyone to recognize and support our sponsors for their role in the Super Cooper Heart Run".

 "We are honored to receive this generous donation that will benefit many families that experience an unexpected stay in our NICU," said Phyllis Peoples, TGMC President and CEO. Mrs. Peoples added, "These proceeds will enhance the medical services that are provided at the hospital by addressing the social needs that the families of our patients may have as a result of their baby being in NICU."

These proceeds will provide medical and social care to the infants and families of infants admitted to the TGMC-NICU after being born with serious medical conditions. This fund allows families to focus on the wellness of their child without having to worry about how they might afford the immediate necessities of caring for a sick baby. The money provides families with diapers, wipes, layettes, gas cards, phone cards, car seats, strollers, lodging vouchers and other items that these families have not prepared for while their baby is in intensive care. Over the past year, the TGMC NICU has cared for over 180 newborn babies with serious medical conditions. Each of these babies and their families have been touched in a positive way because of the Super Cooper Heart Run.

"TGMC's NICU seemed like the perfect place to help out," said Mr. Fontenot. "When Cooper was born he spent his first month of life in the NICU, and we were very fortunate to have a support system behind us through the whole ordeal," said Mr. Fontenot. "After we were back at home and Cooper was recovering and healthy, we decided that we needed to do something to help families of children who are experiencing what we went through. That way, those families can focus on their baby and help them to get better. Hopefully we can help to eliminate some of the everyday distractions while thier baby is getting well," he added.

The Super Cooper Heart Run (5K and 1-Mile Fun Run) is a multi-regional event with the annual fall race in Lafayette, and an annual spring race in Houma. For more information on the TGMC NICU and the Cooper Life Fund please visit www.tgmc.com and www.cooperlifefund.org.