Walkers and teams interested in helping children with birth defects still have time to take part in this year’s March for Babies coming up Saturday at Lydgate Park, said Cheryl Ann Farrell, event coordinator. People can register the day of
Walkers and teams interested in helping children with birth defects still have time to take part in this year’s March for Babies coming up Saturday at Lydgate Park, said Cheryl Ann Farrell, event coordinator.
People can register the day of the walk or make their contributions at that time, Farrell said in an e-mail. Additionally, there is time to register online at www.marchforbabies.org. People can also make donations at any of the Long’s Drugs Stores or at the Big Kmart store.
The walk benefiting the March of Dimes will take place from 7:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday with the Godsill family from Kekaha leading off a field of more than 20 walk teams who have pledged their support to children.
Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. will deliver the opening remarks before joining his team, the Dad’s Coalition. Other teams include the Mom’s Club of Kaua‘i, the Hawai‘i Medical Service Association, the Kaua‘i Community College nursing program, the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, Territorial Savings, the Department of Health, plus several family teams from around the island, Farrell said.
The goal of March of Dimes is to have more than 200 walkers working hard to reach its goal of $40,000.
Registration for the walk starts at 7:30 a.m. with the walk beginning at 8 a.m. along a 1.5-mile course around Lydgate Park on the scenic multi-use path.
Following the morning stroll, keiki can enjoy rides, games and a bouncer provided by Fun and Kwazy Rides while parents have an opportunity to learn more about how the March of Dimes helps families.
The Godsill family, this year’s Ambassador Family, received help when 6-month-old Mackenzie was born.
Mom Annie was diagnosed with a tear in the placenta which created a serious complication to carrying Mackenzie to full term, a news release states.
That sent Annie to be admitted to the Kapiolani Children’s Hospital in the 25th week of her pregnancy. Mackenzie was born nine weeks later at 34 weeks, six to eight months premature.
Weighing in at three pounds, 11 ounces, Mackenzie stayed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for 17 days. During the 81 days that Annie was at Kapiolani, she received support from the March of Dimes volunteers, benefited from the research and technology used at the Kapiolani Hospital’s NICU center, and the entire family received counseling and support.
Today, Mackenzie weighs in at more than 10 pounds and is healthy, taking time to meet team captains for the March for Babies during a kickoff meeting late in February.
The March for Babies is the March of Dimes premier fundraising event that benefits all babies. Started in 1970, it is the original walking event, raising money to fund important research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and give hope to the families of babies born too soon or sick.
For more information, visit marchofdimes.com
