Tim Arndt, Sr. State Director of Communications and Marketing
March of Dimes Indiana Chapter
317-262-4668 and tarndt@marchofdimes.com.

March of Dimes Research Funding totals $88 Million including $450,000 for Researchers in Indiana.  Chase’s Story Illustrates Need.

(Indianapolis, IN, April 21, 2007)— Born13 weeks too soon, no one knew if Chase would survive.  Little Chase Manuel of Indianapolis weighed only 1 pound, 15 ounces at birth and needed immediate critical care and treatment.  Chase couldn’t breathe, he had a hole in his heart, and he needed a feeding tube, underwent surgery, 5 blood transfusions, countless painful needle sticks and at six weeks old had to be revived with CPR— all part of his first 13 weeks of life.  These are the battles many premature babies and their families have to face and what the March of Dimes is fighting to prevent with its research and community programs.

“The March of Dimes is funding the research of some of the brightest minds in America through our national BASIL O’CONNOR STARTER SCHOLAR RESEARCH AWARDS program” said Tim Arndt, March of Dimes Indiana Chapter.   “Some of those minds are right here in Indiana.  Of the $88 million for research funding, the March of Dimes is provides $450,000 for research into premature labor, leukemia, Noonan’s syndrome and congenital cataracts at Indiana University in Indianapolis.  Local research that could lead to a day when treatments are available to prevent these problems from threatening the lives and health of all babies in America,” says Arndt. 

Since 1970, WalkAmerica has funded research and community programs that have saved the lives of babies—babies like Chase Manuel and millions of others who are born too soon, sick and suffering disabilities.   The progress is impressive but the problem continues to grow. The rate of prematurity in Indiana has risen 26% SINCE 1994.  Today, 1 in 8 Indiana babies is born prematurely.   Many of these babies die and more than 120,000 babies are born with serious birth defects that can mean a lifetime of disability.   The need for support has never been greater.

WalkAmerica takes place in 46 Indiana communities.  For a full list of WalkAmerica events in Indiana and to sign up to take part, go to www.walkamerica.org or call the Indiana Chapter of the March of Dimes at 1-800-BIG-WALK.

In 2007, National WalkAmerica Sponsors are CIGNA, Continental Airlines, Famous Footwear, Farmers, FedEx and Kmart, the March of Dimes number one corporate partner who has raised more than $55.5 million to save babies.  Additional national sponsorship is provided by Discovery Health, Grain Foods Foundation, Mead Johnson Nutritionals and Outdoor Services. “We are proud to be sponsored across the state by our State Sponsors, FedEx and Duke Energy,” Arndt said. 

The March of Dimes mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.  For more information, visit marchofdimes.com/Indiana or nacersano.org for Spanish language information.