For nearly two months in 1997, complete strangers became Cynthia Courtney’s family.

When she went into labor prematurely with her son Noah nearly 10 years ago, Courtney was far from her New York home. Now living in Forest Hill, she and her family remain close to those who took care of them at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center.

“These people are amazing ... For 63 days, they were our family, and they still are,” Courtney said.

The nurses and doctors kept in touch even after she was released, and since then her family has participated twice in GBMC’s Father’s Day Fun Run.

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Sunday morning’s 5K run and 1.5-mile walk drew more than 900 people to the campus of Goucher College in Towson, with registration fees and pledges benefiting the NICU, GBMC Foundation spokeswoman Jil Robins said. While fundraising totals were not yet available as of Sunday afternoon, Robins said last year’s event raised more than $48,000.

“We had a great crowd — at least as many, if not more, than last year.” Robins said. “We had lots of kids and many NICU grads, which was great to see.”

Noah Courtney, 9, was honored after Sunday’s race for raising $660 for the NICU — including $100 from his 7-year-old brother. All children who completed the walk received medals.

When Addy Benjamin was born on Father’s Day one year ago, her mother Kim began losing blood due to complications in childbirth and slipped into a coma. Addy was admitted to the NICU for monitoring while Kim recovered in intensive care.

“They were her mommy when I couldn’t be,” Kim said, playing with Addy in the courtyard of the Towson Sheraton after the run.

Not all who came were connected to GBMC: John Wisniewski of Perry Hall took the opportunity to join his daughter Janna on her first 5K run, taking pride in the chance to do so on Father’s Day.

Kipchirchir Bitok, a graduate student at Johns Hopkins, convinced the six people working in his lab to join him in the run and raise money through their registration fees.

“It’s one way to have fun and give back to the community... it’s almost like a family thing,” Bitok said.

msantoni@baltimoreexaminer.com