Emma’s Story:

March of Dimes Selects Ambassador for

2009 March for Babies

Eleven year-old from Jericho

Celebrates her Birthday by Marching for Babies

 

My name is Emma Phalen. I am 11 years old (almost 12). I attend Browns River Middle School and live in Jericho Vermont with my Mom, Dad, and 2 brothers. This will be my third year fund raising for the March of Dimes and my third March for Babies.

 

Three years ago for my ninth birthday party, I wanted to do something meaningful and fun. A family friend asked us if we wanted to participate in the March for Babies. At the time my Aunt was pregnant with her second child. I thought that a cause that involved babies was something I could relate to. As my own birthday fell roughly around the date of the March for Babies, I thought it was the perfect way to celebrate my Birthday. We made March of Dimes invitations, and used blue and pink as our colors. We even made t-shirts for the March! I had a bunch of girls over for a sleep over. We woke up the next morning and went to the walk. It was so much fun, the walk, the music, the food and prizes. I knew immediately that I would be doing this again next year.

 

The following winter my parents went to the March of Dimes fundraiser at the Sheraton Hotel. They had such a great time and really enjoyed all of the different kinds of food. My mom told me how the video she watched at the event made her cry. I was beginning to form quite an attachment to the March of Dimes.

 

In the early spring of ‘08 I began thinking about my Birthday again. I began to learn more about the March of Dimes. I also began to hear stories of premature births and the difficulties these children face in life. I became much more aware of the importance of a baby staying in its mom’s belly for the full 9 months. I was sure I wanted to do the walk again this year, but this time I wanted to work harder for the March of Dimes. I decided to raise my goals for both fund-raising and getting more people to join me in the March for Babies. The March of Dimes was eager to help me reach my goals. They gave me ideas and things I could hand out to kids who participated. I was so excited to get started. I had a lot of people who were excited about what I was doing. But what I realized is that it is very hard to fund-raise, and even harder to get people involved. I got discouraged a few times. The people from the March of Dimes were always there for me supporting me and helping me move forward. Over the past two years, my team has raised almost $800 to improve the health of babies. If the March of dimes could help and support me in this way, they must be amazing to the families of premature babies. The support and encouragement I get from the March of Dimes is the main reason I come back stronger every year.

 

My friends and I went to the March for Babies that year and had an amazing time. Some of the girls had come the year before and some of the girls were new to the walk. I enjoyed meeting Governor Douglas and am glad he cares about what the March of Dimes is doing. My friends and I were on the radio, we ate a lot of food, we watched all the walkers come in, and we really enjoyed ourselves. Oh, did I mention we had all of this fun in the rain?

 

I really feel connected to the March of Dimes. I am still learning about all that they do, and I am still leaning about premature babies. But what I do know is that I want to be a part of it all and I am very excited about being selected as Ambassador for the Burlington March for Babies 2009 which will be held at Burlington High School on Saturday, May 2nd. I want to help the March of Dimes as much as I can. I know what I do is a small contribution compared to others, but I plan on making it bigger and better every year.

 

In 2009 my goal is to reach out to kids outside of my friends and classroom. I want to get my whole middle school involved. I am also going to contact our local newspaper so that I can reach out to my whole community as well. I don't have an exact dollar figure that I want to raise, nor do I have a team size in mind. I just want to spread the word about what the March of Dimes is doing and why it is important. The rest will fall into place.

 

Emma Phalen

Jericho, Vermont