Los Angeles March for Babies celebrity chairs Melissa Joan Hart (photo right) and Joey Lawrence (left) met 7-year-old Lauren Fleming, the March of Dimes 2011 National Ambassador (front row, right) and her family at a breakfast at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center here to kick off the Greater Los Angeles 2011 March for Babies campaign. Also in photo: Densel Fleming holds son Corbin Fleming, age 1, and daughter Erin Fleming, age 3.
Lauren’s mom Nikki and dad Densel Fleming (back row) shared their story about Lauren’s premature birth and five-month stay in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) near her hometown of Charlotte, NC. The Flemings are traveling across the country this year to raise awareness about the serious problem of premature birth and the importance of March of Dimes-supported research and other programs.
Hundreds of the area’s top business and healthcare leaders also attended the kickoff, led by Thomas M. Priselac, President and CEO, Cedars-Sinai Health System, who is serving as Chair of the 2011 Greater Los Angeles March for Babies.