$6,455.00

Makaylen Jaymes Plotz was born on Valentine's Day, 2022 and died a little over 18 months later. Our beautiful little girl was a healthy and thriving toddler. We put her to bed with hugs and kisses like every other night of her life and we had zero warning of what was to come. The morning of Friday, September 8th, 2023 Makaylen did not wake up. After 8 long weeks we received the extensive autopsy results that told us what we already knew? nothing was wrong with Makaylen, our daughter was completely healthy, there was no accident or injury, and her cause of death was labeled undetermined. This puts her into the category of Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC.)

According to the SUDC Foundation: Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) is a category of death in children between the ages of 1 and 18 years that remains unexplained after a thorough investigation, including an autopsy. Most often, a seemingly healthy child goes to sleep and never wakes up. SUDC is not new but is believed to be rare, with estimates being about one in every 100,000 children. Every year, at least 400 children are lost to undetermined causes in the U.S. alone. It is most common in young children and is the fifth leading category of death among children ages 1 to 4 years. Our family is dedicated to finding ways we can honor Makaylen and raise awareness of SUDC. We have donated her DNA to the SUDC Registry and Research Collaborative (SUDC-RRC). Any amount donated towards the research is so appreciated by our family and the many SUDC Families that have enrolled their beloved child into the SUDC-RRC. We are all just grieving families looking to get answers that may someday prevent and eliminate Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood. 

The SUDC Foundation has also been a vital area of support: providing resources from the very beginning, answering the most difficult questions, directing us to the DNA bank and research, and hosting the SUDC Community Retreat which linked us to a network of other families. A portion of the proceeds received the day of will go to the SUDC Foundation as well.Your donations and participation in The Makaylen Mile means so much to our family. 

If you have already registered for THE MAKAYLEN MILE 2025 please pay your full registration amount by clicking the DONATE button here!

If you have not registered yet, please do so by completing this Google Form. REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/AnwFAasMzvfMvM3X9 

If you are unable to attend the walk but would still like to make a donation in Memory of Makaylen, you may also click the DONATE button here. 100% of the proceeds collected on this fundraising page will go directly to the SUDC Research at the SUDC-RRC. 

THE MAKAYLEN MILE will take place on September 6th, 2025 at the annual High Forest Old Settlers Day Celebration (just 3 miles West of Stewartville, Minnesota.) At 10:00am we will take off from the starting line at High Forest Village Park (a.k.a. "The Square".) Registration starts at 9:00am which will include confirming your registration and receiving your High Forest Old Settlers Day button! Button's will get you entry into the entire day's festivities which include: The Makaylen Mile - A kids fishing contest - Multiple kids games and activities - Photo booth - Live music - Bean bag tournament - Wagon rides - The grand parade - Bonfire - And more! Food vendors and a cash bar will also be available starting at 11:00am. 

Along the 1.3 mile route there will be a Kids Scavenger Hunt that can be completed for a special prize. We will have signs to help raise awareness of Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood and multiple Minnesota SUDC children will also be honored along the way. Awards will be given for fastest mile; largest group/team; best dressed; youngest/oldest participants; best power-walk and more!

Cost to participate in the walk itself will be $20 per adult; $10 for children ages 6-17; Children 5 and under are free! We have the opportunity to save costs and overhead fees by having everyone pay their registration through a direct donation RIGHT HERE by clicking the "DONATE" button! Please add up your total cost for the participants that you registered and enter that as your donation which will be recorded as your paid registration (as long as you do not click the anonymous button, I will be able to note that you are paid and will send an email confirmation that it's been received.) As mentioned previously, additional donations to the research will gladly be accepted HERE in Makaylen's memory as well!Please note: You will receive a receipt for your tax-deductible donation. All donations are final and non-refundable.

Please help us raise awareness of Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood and donate to SUDC Research in loving memory of our forever Valentine, Makaylen Jaymes Plotz 2.14.2022 - 9.8.2023