Barstow Marches for Babies

By Abby Sewell, Desert Dispatch, Barstow, Calif.

Apr. 25–BARSTOW — Gail Shoemaker expects to see 150 people on streets of Barstow on Saturday marching for healthy babies.

The chairperson of Barstow’s 32nd March for Babies walk, previously known as WalkAmerica, put on by the March of Dimes organization, hopes the event will raise $25,000 this year to support infant health research and services. The national March of Dimes organization funds research to prevent birth defects and premature births and provides information and support services to pregnant women and families of newborn babies.

Last year, Barstow’s march raised about $18,000 with 76 registered walkers, Shoemaker said. Including unregistered supporters, about 100 people walked the course in total. Shoemaker began walking 10 years ago and gradually became more and more involved with the organization.

“I don’t have a personal experience to draw on — just the idea of promoting healthier babies,” she said.

For Bridget Kilgore, on the other hand, the cause has a very personal meaning. Her 20-month old son William was born about 13 weeks premature. He weighed 2 pounds 5 ounces when he was born. After three months in the hospital, William came home taking five or six medications and hooked up to an oxygen tank and a monitor for his breathing and heart rate.

“It was very stressful and emotional, nothing you could ever imagine,” she said.

Now approaching his second birthday, William is healthy and his development is progressing well, she said. Weather permitting, he will accompany his mother, grandmother and 6-year-old sister on the March for Babies this Saturday.

“I truly support the funding that it gives to help premature babies, in funding whatever cures they need, whatever technology they need,” Kilgore said.

For more information on the cause or to register online, see http://www.marchforbabies.org or http://www. marchofdimes.com.

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Copyright (c) 2008, Desert Dispatch, Barstow, Calif.

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