Bend’s March for Babies raises $38,000
It was the best feel-good moment of the week in Bend, when about 250 residents joined together in support of the smallest members of the community — babies — by participating in Saturday’s 2015 March for Babies to benefit March of Dimes.
RiverBend Park was packed with strollers, families and corporate teams who raised more than $38,000 to help babies be born healthy. Throughout Oregon and SW Washington, 10 walks raised a total of $900,000.
“We’ve seen today how important the health of moms and babies are to the people of Bend,” said Barb Cardinale, Senior VP & Business Banking Sales Leader at KeyBank and Greater Oregon March of Dimes Board Chair.
“I’m so proud to be part of a community of people coming together for such a great cause. Helping our babies should be a top priority, and we’re excited about what we’ve accomplished here today .”
“It was a memorable and rewarding day for all of us,” said Laurie Shank, whose daughter was born too soon. “When Audrey was born more than three months premature, we decided we wanted to do everything possible to help spare other families from the trauma we experienced. We’re honored to represent March of Dimes today in return for all they’ve done to help babies like ours.”
In an average week in Oregon, 877 babies are born, and 82 (9.3%) of them are preterm. Prematurity and birth defects together account for the majority of infant deaths, both in the first month and the first year of life.
Premature birth is the most urgent infant health problem in the U.S. today . It affects nearly half a million babies each year, including 4,241 in Oregon.
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.
March for Babies National Facts
* More than seven million people take part in the event
* Since 1970, March of Dimes has raised over $2 billion for healthier babies
* More than 900 communities take place in the walk across the country
For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. Find out how you can help raise funds to prevent premature birth and birth defects at marchforbabies.org.
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.
