March of Dimes Biggest Fundraiser to Help Babies Be Born Healthy Happens April 25th
Bend, Ore. – Tomorrow at RiverBend Park in Bend, hundreds of 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.
The Shank family is one of many mission affected families walking this year. Laurie and Jeff were so excited to become parents and were looking forward to starting their family. At 20 weeks, Laurie’s cervix shortened. She was on home and hospital bed rest for almost 6 weeks. She delivered Audrey at 25-1/2 weeks. Audrey spent 10 weeks in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) before going home. Today, Audrey is a vibrant 4-year-old little girl, and the Shank family is dedicated to making sure other parents have the same happy ending.
Joining the Shank family, and so many others who know the distress of premature birth or birth defects, are local businesses, including Walgreens, Western Title, Macy’s, St. Charles, Selco and PacificSource.
File – St. Charles Team
Funds raised by March for Babies in Oregon and SW Washington help support prenatal wellness programs, research grants, information for families experiencing a newborn intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization and advocacy efforts for stronger, healthier babies. Premature birth affects nearly half a million babies each year, including 4,264 in Oregon.
*Locally March for Babies is sponsored by First Tech Federal Credit Union, PacificSource, St. Charles Health Systems, Kendall Toyota of Bend, Lifewise Health Plan of Oregon, Moda Health, Big 5, Selco Community Credit Union, KQAK 105.7, Lite 95.7, KRCO, The Peak 104.1, and News Radio KBNW. The 2015 March for Babies is sponsored nationally by the March of Dimes number one corporate supporter Kmart, Famous Footwear, Macy’s, Cigna, United Airlines and Mission Pharmacal.
Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. with the 5k walk kicking off at 10:00 a.m.
If you see local news happen, call the Horizon Broadcasting Group News Tip Hotline at 541-323-NEWS, or email us.
