Posted by Abigail Rose Vetick on May 05, 2010 11:30 a.m.
Multi-million dollar corporations, Olympic gold medalists, platinum-selling artists, and, most importantly, moms and dads make up the fabric of the volunteers for March of Dimes, March for Babies. Thousands of Nebraskans gathered at Mahoney State Park in Ashland, Neb. on Sunday, April 25 to raise money to support programs that help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies. The March for Babies has been going on since 1970, raising over $1.8 billion to benefit babies.
Getting off the interstate on the Mahoney State Exit was an inspiring picture: Cars were lined up for miles, and the participants were excitedly anticipating their three-mile walk. The windy, overcast weather was not raining on anybody’s parade as mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, family pets, and—most importantly—survivors of premature birth all gathered to raise money and awareness for this amazing organization.
Betsy Hills and Kurt Miller, both from Omaha, organized a team for their daughter, Olivia, who was born November 20, 2009, at 2 lbs. 11 oz. and passed away on November 23, 2009. Team Livie Bean consisted of family and friends all raising money and assembling to walk in honor of Olivia. They all wore T-shirts that read: “There is no footprint too small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world.”
Contrary to what may be expected at such an emotional event, laughter and smiles lined the three-mile path as families and friends celebrated the lives of those who are survivors and the memory of those who passed away.
The mission of March of Dimes is “to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. The March of Dimes carries out this mission through programs of research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies’ lives. March of Dimes researchers, volunteers, educators, outreach workers and advocates work together to give all babies a fighting chance against the threats to their health: prematurity, birth defects, low birthweight.”
To learn more about March of Dimes, March for Babies or to donate money to support the mission, please visit www.marchofdimes.com. To learn more about the inspiring story of Olivia, click here.To watch the WOWT news story covering the march, click here.