March for Babies is back
CRANBERRY TWP — The March for Babies on May 22 at North Boundary Park will be a family event and a celebration of the funds raised for America's tiniest citizens.
The March of Dimes last had the event in Butler County in 2014, when the March for Babies at the campus of the Butler County Community College raised about $40,000.
This year's event will have corporate teams, family teams, and individuals stroll on three miles of the park's trail system to commemorate their contributions to the organization.
“We consider it a celebration where everyone comes and celebrates the fundraising they've done throughout the year,” said Meghan Principe, spokesman for the March of Dimes' Western Pennsylvania chapter.
Registration will be at 9 a.m., and the walk will be at 10 a.m.
Face painting, music, a family fun area and food from Jason's Deli in Cranberry Township will be featured, Principe said.
She said 76 cents of every dollar raised at the March for Babies goes to the mission of the March of Dimes, which is education and research to prevent infant mortality, birth defects and premature births.
“We're hoping to raise $75,000 (at the march),” Principe said.
She said many businesses have partnered with the March of Dimes to raise funds, and the employees from many of those companies will participate in the March for Babies.
Employee teams have had bake sales and sold T-shirts to raise funds.
Mark Gordon, general manager at AK Steel, is chairman for the county March for Babies, Principe said. The event's executive leadership committee is comprised of staff members from Armstrong, Farmers National Bank, Aetna and UPMC Corporate.
Family teams who march often have benefited from the March of Dimes, and many decorate their babies' strollers and wear matching T-shirts during the walk.
“Most of the families who have been touched by the March of Dimes will come,” Principe said.
The 2016 county March for Babies Ambassador Family are Scott and Bethany Meskel and their children, Patrick and Emma.
Emma was an identical twin who was delivered prematurely after it was discovered that her sister, who had been named Olivia, had not survived the pregnancy.
Emma was born weighing just 2 pounds, 1 ounce. The tiny baby girl spent 92 days in the neonatal intensive care unit at West Penn Hospital, where she was treated using methods that were researched with March of Dimes funds.
Those treatments included surfactant therapy, which is an application that aids the underdeveloped lungs of pre-term babies to help preemies breathe.
“From research to find answers and solutions, to information and comfort for families with a critically ill baby or those who have experienced loss, the March of Dimes is there,” Principe said.
She said the Meskels will march on May 22 because they understand the impact the March of Dimes has had on all babies and their parents, not only in research and information, but also as a place for families to find comfort and support.
The Meskels will share their story at the march, and hope it will provide promise for others as well as help the March of Dimes to reach its goal of all babies being born strong and healthy.
They also have raised money on their own. The Meskels sponsored a fundraiser April 10 at Family Bowl-A-Way in Butler, and Tiny Emma's Team of Butler raised $2,503 for the March of Dimes.
For more information on the county March for Babies or to register to walk, visit the website
