Walking for a Wonderul Cause!

This up coming Saturday I am walking 3 miles to raise money for March of Dimes. I set my goal at 200 dollars and I am so close, I have raised 165 dollars as of this morning.

As you know Boog was born at 37 weeks weighing just 3 pounds 15 ounces. He had to stay in the NICU for 10 days until he was just under 5 pounds. Ever since then I have donated as much money as possible, as often as possible to March of Dimes. It is a Charity that helps families with babies in the NICU that are born prematurely. They also use the money raised to do prematurity research. It is a cause that is very close to my heart.

Boog in the NICU

Here are some startling facts I got from March of Dimes website:

Every year, more than half a million babies are born prematurely in the United States. The rate of premature birth has risen by 30 percent since 1981.

Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death worldwide. Even babies born just a few weeks too soon can face serious health challenges and are at risk of lifelong disabilities. Premature birth costs society more than $26 billion a year.

543,000 babies, or 1 in 8, are born prematurely each year.

Even before Boogs' birth I loved the history behind March of Dimes. President Franklin Roosevelt founded it to fight Polio. March of Dime originally  helped fund research to create the Polio Vaccine that stopped the epidemic when it was on the rise and it provided aid to Polio patients.  FDR ask our country to donate just 10 cents, and here is the amazing part to me, they did. Our nation as a whole made a huge difference with just 10 cents from everyone. To me that is a moment in time that shows how wonderful the world can be.

Once March of Dimes accomplished its fight against Polio it turned its efforts to birth defects and infant mortality. Then in 2003 they became know for their Prematurity Campaign.

Here is the link to read their complete history: http://www.marchofdimes.com/mission/history_indepth.html

If you are able to help support me and healthy babies please use this link to my fundraising page:
http://www.marchforbabies.org/personal_page.asp?pp=3673055&ct=4&si=&w=4685407&u=kim4leafclover

To those who have already donated, thank you for helping make this world a better place!