Ava’s Story

On July 25, 2008, Jim and Jennifer Robertson welcomed their daughter, Ava Angelina, into the world at 24 weeks gestation.  Ava weighed only 11 ounces. Ava was 9 inches in length.  Ava’s parents were told many times that Ava wouldn’t survive after birth.   However, God stepped in and made the seemingly impossible, possible.

During her first year of life, Ava battled a borderline grade 2 brain bleed, pneumonia, staph, fungal sepsis, liver complications, and an unidentified bowel problem, and at 15 ounces, Ava was the smallest baby to ever have PDA ligation heart surgery. 

Against all odds, Ava and her family celebrated her first birthday at Nationwide Children's Hospital.  Ava has since been able to come home, something her parents were told would never happen.  Ava is now a happy 3 year old but still has many obstacles to overcome.

Golf for Babies

Golf for Babies
Mount Vernon Country Club

Date:               Monday June 18, 2012

Location:        Mount Vernon Country Club

                        5111 Old Mill Rd

                        Alexandria, VA

                        Phone: 571-257-2314

Schedule:        12:00 pm Shotgun Start

With participants like Avison Young, Boston Properties, Kearney and Company, JBG Companies, DFS Construction, and HITT General Contracting to name a few, this would be a great opportunity to get involved with a great cause and network with some key players.

Click here to view Golf for Babies Photo Gallery on Facebook.

For more information on how you can participate, contact Nicole Johnson at (571) 257-2314 or njohnson@marchofdimes.com

Dulles Greenway Drive for Charity

Take a Drive … Make a Difference!

The Seventh Annual Dulles Greenway Drive for Charity will be Thursday, May 17, 2012.

All proceeds from tolls collected that day will benefit local charities, including the March of Dimes. This year, the Dulles Greenway hopes to contribute $240,000. Please Drive For Charity on Thursday and help March of Dimes programs. 

 Visit: www.dullesgreenway.com/drive-for-charity

Greenway helps March of Dimes put kids on road to health
By Jason S. Rufner

Julie's son Nathaniel is 12 years old.  He likes playing video games and is doing well in school.  He owns a toothy smile that beams out from under his mop of hair.

Nathaniel's smile might not be here if not for the March of Dimes' work with Inova Fairfax Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of which he is a graduate. Nathaniel was born four months premature, weighing one pound, twelve ounces.

Julie Kipers didn't know Nathaniel’s birth would necessitate a four-month NICU stay until the day before it began.  Now, after she and her family received myriad benefits from the infrastructure of support and comfort afforded by the March of Dimes, she has flipped roles, becoming a long-time volunteer on the Parent Advisory Committee.

"His medical conditions now are barely there. He looks and acts like an average kid," she said as happy shouts from the just-finished March For Babies Walk reverberated around Reston Town Center.

Julie related a story from that morning, when parents of a recent NICU graduate emphatically shook Nathaniel's hand, glad to see evidence that their own child can in fact transcend such harsh maladies.

"Parents need to know from other parents that they will get through it day by day," Julie said. "We've been learning how best to get the family through those times."

The Kipers family is an ideal example of what the March of Dimes' NICU Family Support Program can do for our area's families, thanks in part to the ample yearly financial donations generated by the Dulles Greenway.

Over 6,000 families have engaged in programs of comfort and support as a direct consequence of the Greenway's financial contributions, according to Shannon Gilbert, Chapter Director of the March of Dimes' Maryland-National Capital Area chapter.

In 2005, the local chapter sought to expand its Family Support Program to Inova Fairfax in light of the 12,000 births cared for each year in that facility.  That's when the Dulles Greenway -- already long-established as a benefactor for the March of Dimes -- stepped up its support.

The relationship between the Greenway and the March of Dimes' National Capital Area division is as old as the Greenway itself.  Since the privately owned toll road opened in 1995, the Greenway has continuously partnered with the chapter through outreach like the March For Babies.

Now, as a beneficiary of the Greenway's annual Drive For Charity since that campaign began seven years ago, the March of Dimes relies upon the substantial monetary outlay to fund the many facets of its NICU Family Support Program.

"This program would not be in existence without the Dulles Greenway," said Gilbert flatly. "The Greenway is what started it."

The program, now in its sixth year at Inova Fairfax and with a satellite program at Inova Loudoun, has proven to be a needful one.

"Whether your baby is going to be in the NICU for a few days or many months, it can be a very difficult time, universally," said Sara Donahue, a March of Dimes NICU Family Support Specialist.

"That's where we can come in and provide that extra support to make sure the family knows what's going on and what they need to know to make the best decisions and reduce the stress."

Education, information, bilingual services, staff training and nursing modules are a few of the many pillars in the structure of support and comfort provided by the NICU Family Support Program -- even down to the sense of normality that comes from piecing together baby's first scrapbook.

Thank you Harford County March for Babies!

Thank you very much for your support of Harford County March for Babies. Despite the rain, wind and cold temps, we had a GREAT turnout of over 400 walkers! Thank you for believing in our mission to ensure someday all babies are born healthy.

 Check out our Facebook page for more photos: http://www.facebook.com/marchofdimesmdnca

Team Bischoff

Bringing a new born home from the hospital is usually an exciting and happy time.  Our family had a very different experience.

After delivering our first child in 2009, we marveled at how perfect she was.  Reagan was 6 weeks old when she started having seizures and was diagnosed with an extremely rare brain abnormality.  Her seizures escalated, and she needed brain surgery. She was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy with partial left sided paralysis.  We are thankful for the research the March of Dimes is doing with Cerebral Palsy in the hopes that it will help all children who struggle with this diagnosis. 

As you can imagine, we were nervous about having more children but were told we had no reason to worry.  We were very excited when we learned we were pregnant with twins.  After 3 months of bed rest, being separated from my husband and our 17 month old daughter, I delivered twins in October of 2010 at 25 weeks – a son named Cole and a daughter named Kendall.  Kendall was 1 lb. 7 oz. and unfortunately lived for just over a day.  Our son, affectionately referred to as Ironman, was 2 lbs. 2 oz. He went into cardiac arrest the day after he was born and suffered a brain bleed resulting in a diagnosis of hydrocephalus and requiring brain surgery twice.  Additionally, he needed eye surgery and will have lifelong vision issues.  We firmly believe the surfactant treatments he received gave his lungs the support he needed to survive.  A treatment available as a result of March of Dimes funded research.

The day I was discharged from the hospital, I was looking forward to being home with my husband and daughter but I was devastated to leave our baby behind, recovering from surgery, and exhausted thinking about planning a funeral.  As I packed my things to leave, our social worker knocked on the door to say goodbye and brought in a beautiful box with our daughter’s keepsakes.  I held her blanket as I reached for a beautiful scrapbook.  As I flipped through the pages, I was reminded how tiny her feet were, how beautiful her little hands were and how much I truly missed a baby I barely knew.  I often look through this box and look at her pictures when I want to feel closer to her.  I can guarantee that without the March of Dimes, I wouldn’t have had the energy or strength to put together that box or to scrapbook such a beautiful album that brings m closer to our baby girl.

Room 201 Bed 1 Medical Record 8334416 – those numbers will forever be engrained in my memory and became the passwords to see our baby boy.  Every day for 94 days we visited our son in the NICU.  A room with 25 beds lined with monitors, machines and noises you can’t imagine unless you’ve lived it. You sit next to the isolette for hours watching your baby breathe and hoping it will continue.  Some days just hoping for no change because that’s better than going backwards.  You learn a new vocabulary of medical terms that were part of our daily questions for the doctors.   

Our son, Cole wasn’t home for a first Halloween onesie, first Thanksgiving onesie, or a first Christmas onesie.  He had no clothes or blankets for what felt like forever.  But for every holiday, our son had a scrapbook page with his name, picture and other graphics decorating his isolette.  Some days it was the only color in the room.  Without the March of Dimes, the nurses wouldn’t have had the supplies to make a photo book or to print pictures to decorate his isolette.  It is amazing the happiness that something so simple can bring when day after day is filled with bad news.  I used to open our son’s isolette drawer hoping new pictures were in his photo book.  The first time he had food not TPN!  His first bath.  The first day he wore clothes.  All in a book for me to look at when we were having a tough week.  Keepsakes for both our children to better know Cole’s humble beginning and have something to remember their sister.  These are but a few examples of how the March of Dimes has impacted our family.

The March of Dimes made us feel like Colton was our son.  Not 8334416.  Not Room 201 Bed 1.  In a world where you struggle to figure out how to be a mom when you can’t hold or feed your baby or tell him it’s going to be ok, just being our son and not a number makes all the difference in the world.   We must keep these feelings alive to remind us how important this cause is for those who will come after us. So let’s not forget how important our individual contributions can be when we pool our efforts, energy and financial resources to make a difference.

Check out Team Bischoff speech at the Fairfax March for Babies.

What to expect the Day of March for Baby Event!

March for Babies Day is a fun-filled, family-oriented event. This is a day of celebration of all babies: those born healthy, those struggling to thrive and those who didn't go home. Below are a few frequently asked questions. Your team captain will receive a special e-mail from the March of Dimes with site-specific information.

1. What should walkers wear?
Please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes (in layers to accommodate temperature changes), cotton or wool socks, and walking or tennis shoes.

2. What happens if it rains?
Toss an umbrella in the trunk of your car. March for Babies takes place rain or shine. If it rains and it would be dangerous to walk, the route will be shortened.

3. What time do I need to arrive?
Check-in and registration begins one hour before the walk. But if you've already turned in your money on Bank Day or did all of your fundraising online, come at least 30 minutes early to enjoy the stage program. Walk start times vary by site.

4. What do I do with my cash and check donations?
If you're walking with a team, ask your team captain about turning in cash and checks before walk day. If you're an individual walker, bring the monies with you to the walk or contact your local office for a special mailing address.

5. Can I bring my children in strollers?
The March of Babies wouldn't be a celebration without children and strollers. All of the routes are on stroller-friendly paths.

6. Are there checkpoints or snacks along the route?
There are checkpoints along the route that will provide rest, refreshments and information. Most will have water and some even have a snack.

7. Can I bring my dog?
March for Babies events are held at a variety of sites, including public parks and private property. If you are considering bringing man's best friend, please contact your local office for possible restrictions. Please consider the breed of your pet and that babies and small children will be at March for Babies.

8. Will there be children's activities at my walk site?
We encourage all walkers to bring their children to March for Babies. Children's activities, which vary by site, include face painting, games, bounce houses and the Fun Bus.

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact your local March of Dimes office

A Place to Remember

We are so looking forward to seeing you at an upcoming March for Babies in Reston or Washington, D.C.  As always, we love seeing our families and listening to your stories.

 This year we are adding a few things to all of our walk sites, with larger productions in Reston and Washington, D.C.  In order to give our families who have experienced the loss of a baby some extra TLC, we are planning a special area called “a place to remember”.  This butterfly garden will be an area where families can gather to continue to remember that special little one who is with us only in spirit.  Please join us in this area and tag a butterfly for your little one(s). 

A place to remember will also provide resource material should you need it, have a private area for siblings to make a butterfly for a lost brother or sister or just relax a little and talk with our staff and other families.

If for some reason you cannot find “‘a place to remember”, please ask one of our staff in the mission booth and they will escort you to the area.

We are planning this activity rain or shine.

Thank You Prince William Family Teams!

   

We would like to give a HUGE thank you to all of the wonderful family teams who were able to support the 2012 Prince William County March for Babies!  We had a record turnout of over 800 people who showed up to join with the millions of people across the nation who are marching for babies to help us reach a day when EVERY baby is born healthy.  You all made an enormous impact and we are closer to finding that day because of YOU.  THANK YOU!

 

Check out our Facebookfor more photos.

Thank You Prince Georges Family Teams!

  

Dear Family Teams,

Thank you so much for coming out to March for Babies at Watkins Park! The event’s success is largely driven by our family teams. This is my first year organizing the walk and my heart was so moved when I saw all our family teams lined up at the start line. I especially enjoyed seeing our family come across the finish line with smiles on their faces. Thank you again, your involvement is helping us reach the day we dream of…the day when every baby is born healthy.

Thank you,

Lauren Stover

Check out our Facebookfor more photos.

What to expect the Day of March for Baby Event!

March for Babies Day is a fun-filled, family-oriented event. This is a day of celebration of all babies: those born healthy, those struggling to thrive and those who didn't go home. Below are a few frequently asked questions. Your team captain will receive a special e-mail from the March of Dimes with site-specific information.

1. What should walkers wear?
Please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes (in layers to accommodate temperature changes), cotton or wool socks, and walking or tennis shoes.

2. What happens if it rains?
Toss an umbrella in the trunk of your car. March for Babies takes place rain or shine. If it rains and it would be dangerous to walk, the route will be shortened.

3. What time do I need to arrive?
Check-in and registration begins one hour before the walk. But if you've already turned in your money on Bank Day or did all of your fundraising online, come at least 30 minutes early to enjoy the stage program. Walk start times vary by site.

4. What do I do with my cash and check donations?
If you're walking with a team, ask your team captain about turning in cash and checks before walk day. If you're an individual walker, bring the monies with you to the walk or contact your local office for a special mailing address.

5. Can I bring my children in strollers?
The March of Babies wouldn't be a celebration without children and strollers. All of the routes are on stroller-friendly paths.

6. Are there checkpoints or snacks along the route?
There are checkpoints along the route that will provide rest, refreshments and information. Most will have water and some even have a snack.

7. Can I bring my dog?
March for Babies events are held at a variety of sites, including public parks and private property. If you are considering bringing man's best friend, please contact your local office for possible restrictions. Please consider the breed of your pet and that babies and small children will be at March for Babies.

8. Will there be children's activities at my walk site?
We encourage all walkers to bring their children to March for Babies. Children's activities, which vary by site, include face painting, games, bounce houses and the Fun Bus.

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact your local March of Dimes office

Meet Zachary, Gabriella, and Jacob Nelson

After doing a second IVF procedure to have a sibling for Alexa, their first daughter, Victoria Sansone and Kenneth Nelson Jr. found out early on that they were having triplets. The pregnancy went well until 24 weeks when Victoria was put on bed rest due to high blood pressure.  At 27 weeks, it was determined that Victoria had HELLP Syndrome, and she was flown by helicopter to UMMC in Baltimore to be treated.   They held off her symptoms by giving her steroids (Surfactant), which also helped the babies prepare for their early birth.

At 28 weeks, Victoria’s symptoms returned and because her life was at stake, they delivered the babies immediately. Gabriella weighed 2.4 lbs., Zachary 2.8 lbs., and Jacob 1.4 lbs.  Gabriella and Zachary were given surfactant immediately upon birth.  However, Jacob, the littlest, was showing no signs of distress and was not given the medication, which lead to a series of medical problems.

Gabriella made it through with a few infections and came home after two months in the NICU.  Zachary had feeding and swallowing issues but also quickly followed his sister home at two and a half months.  Jacob finally arrived home after spending over seven months in the NICU and enduring four surgeries.  All three of the children wore apnea monitors for the first year, and Jacob had oxygen until his first birthday. Today, thanks to life-saving March of Dimes research and the care they received, the triplets are 5 years old and are mostly healthy and active.

What to expect the Day of March for Baby Event!

March for Babies Day is a fun-filled, family-oriented event. This is a day of celebration of all babies: those born healthy, those struggling to thrive and those who didn't go home. Below are a few frequently asked questions. Your team captain will receive a special e-mail from the March of Dimes with site-specific information.

1. What should walkers wear?
Please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes (in layers to accommodate temperature changes), cotton or wool socks, and walking or tennis shoes.

2. What happens if it rains?
Toss an umbrella in the trunk of your car. March for Babies takes place rain or shine. If it rains and it would be dangerous to walk, the route will be shortened.

3. What time do I need to arrive?
Check-in and registration begins one hour before the walk. But if you've already turned in your money on Bank Day or did all of your fundraising online, come at least 30 minutes early to enjoy the stage program. Walk start times vary by site.

4. What do I do with my cash and check donations?
If you're walking with a team, ask your team captain about turning in cash and checks before walk day. If you're an individual walker, bring the monies with you to the walk or contact your local office for a special mailing address.

5. Can I bring my children in strollers?
The March of Babies wouldn't be a celebration without children and strollers. All of the routes are on stroller-friendly paths.

6. Are there checkpoints or snacks along the route?
There are checkpoints along the route that will provide rest, refreshments and information. Most will have water and some even have a snack.

7. Can I bring my dog?
March for Babies events are held at a variety of sites, including public parks and private property. If you are considering bringing man's best friend, please contact your local office for possible restrictions. Please consider the breed of your pet and that babies and small children will be at March for Babies.

8. Will there be children's activities at my walk site?
We encourage all walkers to bring their children to March for Babies. Children's activities, which vary by site, include face painting, games, bounce houses and the Fun Bus.

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact your local March of Dimes office

Family Teams Conference call

Join the
Maryland National Capital Area Chapter
March for Babies
Family Teams Conference call.

Thursday April 19th at 8pm
712-775-7100 and the access code: 470884.
The Family Team Kickoff is a great opportunity to hear what other Family Teams in the chapter are doing with March for Babies. Family Teams will have an opportunity to share there success stories on how they are building successful Family Teams.

Get information about the day of the walk. What to wear? Will there be food? What kid activities will be there? What will we need to bring?
There will be an opportunity to ask questions to other family teams and March of Dimes staff members. Please join us as we kick off the 2012 season!
Call in to 712-775-7100 and enter the access code 470884

The West Family

Last year I was pregnant with my third baby, and my due date was supposed to be December 21st. Unfortunately, our little man came on November 10th (6 weeks early) weighing 4 lbs. 14 oz. He came out screaming so we knew his lungs were fine, and all seemed to be okay for the first 24 hours. Soon, though, he couldn't keep his temperature regulated and on the second day the nurses called the Neonatologist in the middle of the night because they noticed blood in his stool. We were flown by helicopter to Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and so began our nine week NICU stay and four week GI unit stay.

After we arrived at Children's, they did every test they could think of to figure out why he was so sick. They took blood, did an upper GI, a spinal tap, and much more, but they still couldn't figure it out. On day four of his life, at 2:30 a.m. they performed emergency surgery and discovered he had a perforated colon and was very, very sick with Sepsis. The surgery left him with a colostomy. For the first 3 weeks of his life, we did not think he was going to make it. Then around the fourth week we thought he had started to come around – he came off the ventilator and seemed to be doing better. Unfortunately, though, the stoma developed a hole and saturated his surgery wound. It was an impossible battle trying to keep him from getting sepsis again and keeping his wound clean.

Finally, at 13 weeks old, he was able to come home. Today as I type this, he is 14 weeks old. We have weekly clinic visits at Children’s to check labs, he has a feeding tube to help his liver and also help his body absorb all the good stuff he needs. He is still not gaining weight like he should and is just over 9 lbs. now. I will be walking at the Assateague March for Babies this year, and I am so thankful for everything that the March of Dimes has done, including all the research that means so much more to me now.

Maryland National Capital Area Bank Days!

Bank Day is a great opportunity for you to turn in your team’s money and to pick up your team incentives. Coming to Bank Day allows you to enjoy March for Babies without handling money or standing in line for registration. Please make sure that all donations are marked with your team name, walk site location and separated by walker. This will insure that all funds are credited to the correct walker and team. Be sure to print and bring with you, your “Team Form”, which summarizes amount raised and t-shirt size for all of your team members.

In appreciation for your support, when you raise $350 or more, you will receive your choice of a Kmart or Macy’s Gift Card. The more you raise, the more valuable the gift card. See below for details.

If You Raise: You Will Receive:
$200 March for Babies T-shirt
$350 $15 Gift Card and T-shirt
$500 $25 Gift Card and T-shirt
$1,000 $50 Gift Card and T-shirt
$2,500 $125 Gift Card and T-shirt
$5,000 $250 Gift Card and T-shirt
$10,000 $500 Gift Card and T-shirt
$20,000 $600 Gift Card and T-shirt

Look below for a bank location and time that works for you.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Harford County - Bank of America - Bel Air
201 South Main Street, Bel Air, MD 21204

Wicomico County BB & T Bank
2400 North Salisbury Boulevard, Salisbury, MD 21804

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Allegany County Susquehanna Bank
Country Club Mall, LaVale, MD 21502

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Caroline County BB & T Bank
102 South Main Street, Federalsburg, MD 21632

Fredrick County - BB & T Bank
5825 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick, MD 21704

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Prince William County - Bank of America - Manassas
8501 Sudley Rd., Manassas, VA 20109

Prince Georges County - Bank of America – Kettering
10600 Campus Way South, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774

Washington County - Susquehanna Bank
18000 Dual Highway, Hagerstown, MD 21740

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

St. Mary’s County - Bank of America - Lexington Park
21800 North Shangra Park, Lexington Park, MD 20653

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Worchester County - Bank of America
4401 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Baltimore County - Susquehanna Bank – Columbia
8801 Columbia 100 Parkway, Columbia, MD 21045-2142

Baltimore County - Susquehanna Bank – Reistertown
11817 Reistertown Rd., Reistertown, MD 21136-3337

Charles County - Bank of America - Charles County Plaza
3255 Crain Highway, Waldorf, MD 20603

Montgomery County - Bank of America – Rockville
255 North Washington Street, Rockville, MD 20850

Fairfax County - Bank of America – Reston
11303 Sunset Hills Road, Reston, VA 20190

Fairfax County - Bank of America - Tysons Corner
8300 Greensboro Drive, Unit L3, McLean, VA 22102

Thursday, May 10, 2012

District of Columbia - Bank of America
730 - 15th St., NW, Washington, DC 20005

Thank you for your support!

Family Teams Conference call.

Join the
Maryland National Capital Area Chapter
March for Babies
Family Teams Conference call.

Thursday April 19th at 8pm
712-775-7100 and the access code: 470884.

The Family Team Kickoff is a great opportunity to hear what other Family Teams in the chapter are doing with March for Babies. Family Teams will have an opportunity to share there success stories on how they are building successful Family Teams.

Get information about the day of the walk. What to wear? Will there be food? What kid activities will be there? What will we need to bring?
There will be an opportunity to ask questions to other family teams and March of Dimes staff members. Please join us as we kick off the 2012 season!
Call in to 712-775-7100 and enter the access code 470884

Announcing the National Family Team Incentive

Two members from each of the Top 10* Family Teams in
March for Babies 2012 will be invited to attend the

March of Dimes

National Volunteer Leadership Conference

Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort
Orlando, FL

October 18 - 21, 2012

Includes travel accommodations, three night stay
and admission to the Magic Kingdom.

A separate drawing will be held on July 1, 2012 to select three family teams that have raised $5,000 or more.*

Two members from each of these teams will also be invited to attend the national volunteer leadership conference and
Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom.

*Fundraising totals received by the March of Dimes
as of June 30, 2012 at 11:59 p.m.

Team Emmy Bear

Emily decided she was ready to come into the world on Friday, August 13, 2010. My husband and I rushed to the hospital early in the morning to find out I was in preterm labor. Luckily the team at Greater Baltimore Medical Center Labor and Delivery were able to stop my contractions. I was able to receive two shots of corticosteroid over the next 24 hour period to help develop the baby’s lungs. I lasted on bed rest of three nights and the contractions started again early Monday morning. This time the doctors could not stop the contractions.
I had to have an emergency cesarean section. Our tiny baby was born at 5:04 am on August 16th. She was born at 26 weeks gestation and weighed only 2 pounds, 5 ounces and was 13.5 inches long. She had to be put on the ventilator right away to help her breathe. Ten days after Emily was born we were finally able to hold her. Since she was on the ventilator for this long she was diagnosed with Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). She was given surfactant therapy to help the small air sacs in her lungs from collapsing. Without March of Dimes research, Emily may have breathing problems or worse, may not have made it out of the NICU.

Emily spent the next 86 days in the NICU at GBMC. They were the hardest days of our lives. Visiting her everyday- multiple times a day we saw new babies checking into the NICU. Some were much smaller and even sicker than our Emily.
Today Emily is 17 months old, healthy and so happy. She amazes my husband and me every day. I support the March of Dimes because before I delivered at 26 weeks, I had no idea the magnitude of issues and problems families could face trying to have a baby. Especially after being in the NICU and seeing all of the tiny, sick babies I had to reach out to make people aware of the issues many people go through when their baby is born sick, too soon, or doesn’t make it. I will continue to support the March of Dimes so they can help fund research to help stop premature births and to someday have all babies born healthy.

Join Team Emmy Bear at Noodles & Company

Join Us!
Help Support
team emmy bear
&

at:

825 Goucher Blvd #100B
Towson, MD 21286
April 19, 2012
4:00 – 8:00 PM
25% of your dinner will go towards team Emmy Bear!
March for Babies – May 5th sign up to walk!
http://www.marchforbabies.org/

Maryland-National Capital Area Chapter
Top Walker Club ($1,000+)


$1,000 in health care costs for a family equals:
• 9 hours on a ventilator for a baby in the NICU
• Less than 12 hours in an isolette (incubator) for a sick baby
• 6 days of respiratory treatment for a premature baby to breathe more easily

$1,000 can provide the following services and supplies:
• 40 nurses with late preterm birth education
• 100 families with babies in the NICU with information & supplies to ease their fears
• 10 rocking chairs for kangaroo care in a hospital’s NICU
• One year’s supply of diapers for a Stork’s Nest location
• 10 nursing grand rounds training sessions

Tips to raise $1,000 from Top Walkers
• Utilize Online Fundraising Tool at marchforbabies.org
• Send emails to everyone in your address book
• Post badges and banners on email, facebook, blog, etc.
• Utilize social media to request donations
• Send personalized letters to those not online
• Ask everyone you know (including your hairdresser, mailman, etc.)

Top Walker Club Benefits
• Top Walker Award
• Top Walker Club Shirt
• Recognition on MD-National Capital Area website & facebook page
• Recognition in MD-National Capital Area online newsletter following March for Babies
• Recognition in division and walksite communication/materials
• Invitation and special recognition at local March for Babies Kickoff