The Lemkes (who live in Superior) were selected to serve as the 2006 Ambassador Family because of their experience with premature birth. Austin was born 15 weeks too soon in March 2004 He weighed just one pound, 10 ounces. He spent 75 days in a neonatal intensive care unit (or NICU) fighting for life. He struggled with many of the complications common with prematurity, including respiratory distress syndrome, anemia, jaundice, apnea, infections and a heart defect that required surgery.

“My heart broke at the sight of him,” Austin’s mom Alex recalls. “His skin was completely transparent and I could literally see every vein in his body, see his heartbeat move his chest. He was so tiny I could hold his entire body in the palm of my hand.”

“The Lemke family has shown great strength and perseverance in the face of prematurity and we want to honor and celebrate their victory,” says Justin Zuiker, Boulder community director of the March of Dimes Colorado chapter, explaining why the Lemkes were named the 2006 ambassador family. “We also hope to cast a spotlight on the prematurity crisis and the efforts of many to find answers and solutions.”

Prematurity (when a baby is born three or more weeks before its due date) has risen 30 percent since 1981. In addition to being the number-one killer in the first month of life, it is also the leading cause of lifelong disability for babies who survive. The national annual cost of healthcare for premature infants has been estimated at nearly $16 billion. More than half the time, the causes of prematurity are not known.

Today, Austin is healthy and shows no signs of the disabilities and lingering medical conditions common to children born premature. “We’ve been told by the NICU staff who cared for Austin after birth and by our present pediatrician that he is truly a miracle,” says dad Dan Lemke.

Celebrating its 36th anniversary this year, WalkAmerica is the nation’s oldest charitable walking event and the largest annual March of Dimes fundraiser. Money raised supports research and other programs to help the March of Dimes achieve its mission: improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Fighting prematurity is a key March of Dimes initiative. A seven-year public health campaign seeks to lessen the premature birth rate and raise awareness of prematurity as a serious infant-health issue.

The 2006 WalkAmerica fundraising goal for Boulder is $125,000. Those interested in participating may sign up by calling the March of Dimes at (303) 692-0011 or by visiting walkamerica.org.

Local WalkAmerica sponsors include Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center, Seagate Technology, the Daily Camera and Smooth Jazz 104.3 State sponsors are Loaf ‘N Jug, Farmers Insurance Group and Bank of the West. National WalkAmerica sponsors are CIGNA, Kmart, FedEx, Famous Footwear and Farmers Insurance Group.