Franklin, Stephens March for Babies Campaign Kicks Off in Toccoa

The 2013 March for Babies to benefit the March of Dimes is now underway.

A kick-off breakfast for the October 19 Stephens and Franklin County March for Babies at Tugaloo State Park took place last week at the Toccoa First United Methodist Church.

The March for Babies raises money yearly for the March of Dimes, which focuses on prevention of premature births and birth defects, as well as the general health of babies.

March of Dimes Georgia Chapter State Director Sheila Ryan said they are ready to go for another year.

“We are very excited this year,” said Ryan. “We are so blessed to have a great ambassador family this year and support from a lot of major companies in the year. We welcome other people to come and join us.”

This is the 75th anniversary for the March of Dimes.  Ryan said the theme this year is to “Be Your Best for Babies.”

“We want to encourage all of our supporters for this to be their best year,” said Ryan. “Something to exceed their past performance so we can continue to improve the health of babies and moms.”

This year’s Ambassador family for the March for Babies in Stephens and Franklin counties is the Christensen family of Toccoa.  Monica Christensen said that her baby, Wrenn, was born prematurely last year.

“Even though I was 32 weeks, he was the size of a 28-week old,” said Christensen. “They came in and did an emergency Cesarean. He was 2 pounds, 11 ounces.”

She said  the March of Dimes provided support for her and husband, Toree, as they cared for Wrenn.

Those services included pamphlets, e-mail checkups, a physical therapist, and other information on how to take care of a premature baby.  Now, Wrenn is a healthy nine-month old baby boy.

Christensen said that her family is proof of the work that the March of Dimes does and she encourages people to support it by donating to the March for Babies.

“It is just getting in there and finding out everything they do and thinking that could be me, that could be my sister, someone that I know,” said Christensen.

For more information on getting involved in the March for Babies, call 404-350-9800 or go online to www.marchforbabies.org.