March for Babies Mankato 2012

On Saturday, April 28 our community will be walking in March for Babies to give hope to the families of babies born too soon or sick -- more than 7,200 each year in Minnesota alone.

The money we raise will support March of Dimes research and programs that help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies right here in Southwestern Minnesota.

It funds research to find answers to the serious problems that threaten our babies, like premature birth. Affecting more than half a million babies in our country each year, premature birth is the #1 cause of newborn death and the rate of premature birth continues to rise.

Registration for March for Babies at Wheeler Park is at 1:00 pm. The walk starts at 2:00 pm. See you there!

Meet our Mankato Ambassador Family

Eric and Amy Lennartson walk in March for Babies in honor of their twin sons Luke and Gus.  It was a normal pregnancy for Amy until her 26th week when something didn’t feel right and they went in for an ultrasound.  That was the first time they learned they were having twins. 

Due at Thanksgiving, their boys were born eight weeks premature in September of 2002.  Luke weighed three pounds, eight ounces.  Gus weighed four pounds, one ounce.  “I didn’t see the boys for several days after they were born,” shared Amy.  “I was grateful they were as big as they were, but I knew that the road ahead wouldn’t be easy.”

The newborn intensive care unit would be home for Luke and Gus for their first seven weeks of life.  Like many premature babies, their lungs were underdeveloped and they were given surfactant therapy, a life-saving therapy funded by the March of Dimes.  

“We give credit to the March of Dimes history of advocacy and research for helping save our babies,” said Amy.   Today, the boys are happy nine year olds who love reading, science, camping and travel.  

March of Dimes helps moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.  If something goes wrong, March of Dimes offers information and comfort to families.  We research the problems that threaten our babies and work on preventing them.   

“Without the continuing research and development by the March of Dimes, our boys would never be able to live the quality of life they do today,” said Eric.  “We are grateful that such an organization is dedicated to saving babies.”

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