On May 18 at Jackson Park, families and business leaders will join together in the March of Dimes annual March for Babies, the nation’s oldest walk fundraiser honoring babies born healthy and those who need help to survive and thrive.
This year’s walk is special, as March of Dimes celebrates its 75th anniversary and its ongoing work to help all babies get a healthy start in life.
More than 4 million babies were born in the United States last year, and the March of Dimes has helped each and every one through research, education, vaccines and breakthroughs.
One of Oregon and southwest Washington’s official ambassadors, the Hanset family, will be walking and sharing their story to raise awareness for the March of Dimes mission.
Holdyn was born at 24 weeks’ gestation, weighing just 1 pound, 8 ounces. Although he was given a 4 percent chance of survival, he’s now 3 years old and has met and in some cases exceeded his developmental milestones.
The Hansets are raising money and walking in the March for Babies in the hopes that one day all babies will be born healthy.
Joining the Hanset family, and so many others who know the trauma of premature birth or birth defects, are key sponsors like First Tech Federal Credit Union and KeyBank.
Registration begins at 8:45 a.m. with the 10K walk kicking off at 10 a.m. Participation in March for Babies will provide a memorable and rewarding day for the whole family, including crafts and other kids activities, hot dogs after the walk and more.
To join in, visit marchforbabies.org or call toll-free, 800-525-9255, to sign up as an individual, to start a corporate, family or friends team or donate to help babies be born healthy. Participants may also pick up sponsor forms at Kmart.
Funds raised by March for Babies in Oregon and southwest Washington help support prenatal wellness programs, research grants, neonatal intensive care unit family support programs and advocacy efforts for stronger, healthier babies.
“Premature birth is the most urgent infant health problem in the U.S. today,” said Tom Tongue, shareholder at Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt and Greater Oregon March of Dimes board chair. “It affects nearly half a million babies each year, including 4,160 in Oregon.”
This past November, the March of Dimes issued its annual Premature Birth Report Card, giving the nation a “C” and Oregon the grade of “A.” The March of Dimes is committed to funding research to find the answers to problems that continue to threaten the lives and the health of babies.
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find out what’s going on in the greater Oregon chapter by visiting OregonMOD.com.
