Clark County Families and Businesses Ready to March for Babies

March of Dimes’ Biggest Fundraiser to Help Babies Be Born Healthy Happens April 25th

On Saturday, April 25, 2015 at Esther Short Park, hundreds of families and business leaders will join together in the March of Dimes annual March for Babies–the nation’s oldest walk fundraiser honoring babies born healthy and those who need help to survive and thrive.

The Christoffers family is one of many mission affected families walking this year. Courtney and Matthew were looking forward to starting their family. Nearly five months before their twins were due, Courtney began having contractions. At only 22 weeks gestation, Anthony was born. Three days later Grant was born. Anthony had a massive stroke after his birth and lived for five days. Grant lived for nearly six months. Both boys spent all of their short lives in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Courtney and Matthew went on to have three more children, all born full-term. Son Avery is now nine years old, and daughters Lucy and Rosemary are seven and three, respectively. The Christoffers are dedicated to making sure other parents don’t experience the same trauma.

Joining the Christoffers family, and so many others who know the distress of premature birth or birth defects, are local businesses, including PeaceHealth SW Medical Center, Davidson Insurance, Heritage Bank, Umpqua Bank, and Kaiser Permanente.

Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. with the 5K walk kicking off at 9:00 a.m. Participation in March for Babies will provide a memorable and rewarding experience for the whole family. Join the walk and begin fundraising today at www.marchforbabies.org.
Funds raised by March for Babies in Oregon and SW Washington help support prenatal wellness programs, research grants, information for families experiencing a newborn intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization and advocacy efforts for stronger, healthier babies. Premature birth is the most urgent infant health problem in the U.S. today. It affects nearly half a million babies each year, including 8,372 in Washington.

After losing twins, Matthew and Courtney Christoffers are dedicated to supporting March of Dimes’ efforts to prevent premature birth and birth defects. Photo courtesy March of Dimes.

For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. Find out how you can help raise funds to prevent premature birth and birth defects by walking in March for Babies at marchforbabies.org. Locally March for Babies is sponsored by First Tech Federal Credit Union, Big 5, PeaceHealth SW Medical Center, Davidson Insurance, Heritage Bank, 99.5 The Wolf, 105.1 The Buzz and 97.1 Charlie FM. The 2015 March for Babies is sponsored nationally by the March of Dimes number one corporate supporter Kmart, Famous Footwear, Macy’s, Cigna, United Airlines and Mission Pharmacal.

Contributed by March of Dimes.