Riverside Park was filled with an aura of hope, remembrance and celebration last Saturday morning as walkers stepped up to advance the March of Dimes’ mission to prevent birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality through research and education. After warming up, individuals, corporate and family teams tackled a 1- or 6-mile walk to help raise funds and awareness as participants in the Indian River County March for Babies.
The March of Dimes grew from a program founded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938 to combat polio, and, after the development of the Salk polio vaccine, the organization turned its focus to the prevention of birth defects and infant mortality.
March of Dimes studies indicate that premature birth is the No. 1 killer of babies in the U.S. Pam Crowley, MOD Treasure Coast director, said that last year 131 babies were born prematurely in Indian River County and survived.
“We’re a preventative organization,” said Crowley. “We try to find reasons why babies are born prematurely and why they have birth defects. That’s our research focus.”
The majority of the walkers had themselves been born prematurely or had friends or family members affected by premature birth and birth defects.
Dee Dee Williams, this year’s recipient of the Volunteer Spirit Award, gave birth 16 years ago to a son born six weeks early with a rare kidney disorder.
“There was nothing I could have done to save my son,” she said. “Nothing I could have changed about my pregnancy.”
After learning about the work done by the March of Dimes, Williams embraced its mission in the hope that others might be spared the devastating loss of a child.
Pointing to the purple lei she wore, Mary Volsky, Indian River Medical Center women’s healthcare nurse manager, explained, “It signifies that you have had some kind of experience with prematurity and premature birth. Not only do I work with that all the time, but in 1966 I was a premature delivery. I see on a regular basis the pain and suffering of families when things do not turn out. Everything we can do and every dime we raise helps raise awareness and provides us with opportunities to improve healthcare so our moms and babies can have an amazing life.”
The McNeal team walked in honor of this year’s ambassador, 11-year-old Faith McNeal, who was born at 25 weeks weighing only 1 pound, 14 ounces.
“The research they do is so important, so babies like my daughter will have a fighting chance,” said her mother, Lisa McNeal.
After the walk participants celebrated with food and music while children played in the activity area and awards were presented to top fundraisers.
This year the Indian River County March of Dimes has raised $125,000 to help support prenatal wellness programs, research, education, neonatal intensive care units, family support programs and advocacy efforts for stronger, healthier babies.
