Register for the second annual Blue Morpho Walk to benefit KCH
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 10, 2025) – As dawn breaks on Sunday, April 27, The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky will once again be filled with a sea of early risers gathered for the second annual Blue Morpho Walk, an event that benefits the Kentucky Children’s Hospital (KCH).
The hour-long stroll through The Arboretum’s vernal flora, established by 1992 University of Kentucky graduate Melanie Simpson-Conley, began as a way to channel grief into something meaningful. Taking inspiration from the resilience and transformation symbolized by the blue morpho butterfly, the event serves as a purposeful tribute to her daughter, Alex, who died in 2022 after a decade-long battle with a rare cancer.
“I have a childlike vision of Alex and fairies magically fluttering about in the UK Arboretum butterfly garden as family, old friends and new, gather to walk in her memory,” said Simpson-Conley. “It’s a celebration filled with color and pure joy in which we are raising awareness and support for the Kentucky Children’s Hospital, the staff she loved so dearly and for future patients… praying they enjoy better outcomes.”
Beyond its symbolism, the blue morpho butterfly was one of Alex’s favorites, and The Arboretum held a special place in her childhood; today, The Arboretum is home to the Alexandra Simpson Butterfly Garden, a space dedicated to her memory.
“Being a part of the Blue Morpho Walk was so special; it was the perfect way to remember Alex’s vibrant life and lasting legacies,” said longtime radio personality, actor and multiple myeloma survivor Karyn Czar, a 1991 UK graduate. “The fragrant flowers, singing birds and colorful butterflies that fluttered by during the walk through UK’s Arboretum were little reminders that her spirit lives on. I can’t wait for this year’s walk to spend quiet reflective time with Alex and help the projects that were important to her continue to bloom.”
Last year’s inaugural walk brought together more than 130 friends, family and community members, united in celebrating Alex’s legacy and championing a cause that continues to touch lives.
“The Arboretum is such a wonderful place to walk,” said 1979 UK graduate Grace Gray Gorell, a family friend who plans to again lace up her sneakers at the end of the month. “To be there for a sunrise, to celebrate the life of Alex and her advocacy for the Kentucky Children’s Hospital makes it a wonderful celebration to share with others.”
Simpson-Conley said she hopes even more people will join this year, sharing in the camaraderie and sense of purpose that the event fosters.
“I know Alex is present in cheering us on as we look ahead to how we can improve the quality of life for all young people,” she said.
The walk is free and open to all with advance registration. Donations to support Kentucky Children’s Hospital are welcome. Check-in begins at 6:45 a.m., with the walk starting at 7 a.m., rain or shine. To register, email haley.williamson@uky.edu.
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