PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – This year’s March of Dimes’ March for Babies event in Presque Isle – formerly WalkAmerica – brought in more than $30,000 for the organization that seeks to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.
According to Katie Bartley, Central Aroostook Steering Committee member for the March of Dimes, the May 15 event was an overwhelming success.
“The walk started at 11 a.m. at the Elks Lodge in Presque Isle,” she said. “We had about 80 participants this year which is higher than it’s been in the past. We had college graduations and Caribou’s city-wide yard sale all going on at the same time, but we still had a really good turnout.”
Walkers could choose between three different routes. The longest was about five miles, the shortest about a mile-and-a-half and the middle route was about three miles long.
“This is the first time we’ve ever raised over $30,000,” said Bartley. “That was money that was brought in through pledges, as well as proceeds from our first-ever silent auction. That’s terrific for up here.
“We had items donated locally and from the Bangor area,” she said. “We had an autographed Boston Celtics basketball, University of Maine Black Bear tickets, gift certificates from local restaurants and the Bangor area, savings bonds donated by local banks, and more. The auction went well; we’ll probably hold it again next year, too. The committee would like to express appreciation for support from the Presque Isle Elks, Kiwanis and all the local businesses and individuals who contributed to the success of the 2010 campaign.”
Other changes to this year’s March for Babies event included moving it from the usual Sunday to Saturday, and having it originate from the Elks Lodge rather than the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
Bartley said the March of Dimes significantly affects the people in Aroostook County.
“All of the states get a report card from the March of Dimes,” she said, “and Maine got a ‘C.’ Aroostook County has one of the highest percentages of prematurity in the state … 10.6 percent of all babies that are born in Aroostook County are born prematurely.
“In an average week in Maine, 272 babies are born, 30 are born preterm, 19 are born with low birth weight, and two will die before their first birthday,” said Bartley. “It’s shocking.”
The March of Dimes is an organization near and dear to Bartley’s heart.
“I have four children who are premature,” she said. “My daughter is two-and-a-half and she was born five weeks premature, my 15-month-old sons were six weeks premature, and my six-week-old son was five weeks premature. Our first son, who passed away after 52 days, was born 13 weeks premature.
“My twins had to be in an incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), but my daughter and my youngest son were healthy enough that they didn’t have to be there. The twins were born in Portland and were in the NICU for five days and then we transferred them up here three days later,” said Bartley, noting that her children were born prematurely because she developed preeclampsia. “After they leave the NICU, they’re in what’s called the Continuing Care Nursery which is for growers and feeders. They need to be watched, but it’s more of a place for them to grow.”
Bartley and her husband, Chad, have been involved with the March of Dimes since 2006.
“We got involved after the passing of our first son,” she said, “and became aware of how the March of Dimes research helps premature babies and their families.”
She said she hopes the whole family will participate in next year’s walk.
“Two out of our four children were sick so I didn’t want to take them out of the house and expose them to anything else,” she said. “Next year we’ll all be involved. When they’re old enough to understand, I know the March of Dimes will mean something to them and it certainly means something to Chad and I.”
In addition to the walk, money was raised for the March of Dimes through a bake sale at the annual Kiwanis Home Recreation Show.
For more information about the March of Dimes, log onto www.marchofdimes.com.
According to Katie Bartley, Central Aroostook Steering Committee member for the March of Dimes, the May 15 event was an overwhelming success.
“The walk started at 11 a.m. at the Elks Lodge in Presque Isle,” she said. “We had about 80 participants this year which is higher than it’s been in the past. We had college graduations and Caribou’s city-wide yard sale all going on at the same time, but we still had a really good turnout.”
Walkers could choose between three different routes. The longest was about five miles, the shortest about a mile-and-a-half and the middle route was about three miles long.
“This is the first time we’ve ever raised over $30,000,” said Bartley. “That was money that was brought in through pledges, as well as proceeds from our first-ever silent auction. That’s terrific for up here.
“We had items donated locally and from the Bangor area,” she said. “We had an autographed Boston Celtics basketball, University of Maine Black Bear tickets, gift certificates from local restaurants and the Bangor area, savings bonds donated by local banks, and more. The auction went well; we’ll probably hold it again next year, too. The committee would like to express appreciation for support from the Presque Isle Elks, Kiwanis and all the local businesses and individuals who contributed to the success of the 2010 campaign.”
Other changes to this year’s March for Babies event included moving it from the usual Sunday to Saturday, and having it originate from the Elks Lodge rather than the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
Bartley said the March of Dimes significantly affects the people in Aroostook County.
“All of the states get a report card from the March of Dimes,” she said, “and Maine got a ‘C.’ Aroostook County has one of the highest percentages of prematurity in the state … 10.6 percent of all babies that are born in Aroostook County are born prematurely.
“In an average week in Maine, 272 babies are born, 30 are born preterm, 19 are born with low birth weight, and two will die before their first birthday,” said Bartley. “It’s shocking.”
The March of Dimes is an organization near and dear to Bartley’s heart.
“I have four children who are premature,” she said. “My daughter is two-and-a-half and she was born five weeks premature, my 15-month-old sons were six weeks premature, and my six-week-old son was five weeks premature. Our first son, who passed away after 52 days, was born 13 weeks premature.
“My twins had to be in an incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), but my daughter and my youngest son were healthy enough that they didn’t have to be there. The twins were born in Portland and were in the NICU for five days and then we transferred them up here three days later,” said Bartley, noting that her children were born prematurely because she developed preeclampsia. “After they leave the NICU, they’re in what’s called the Continuing Care Nursery which is for growers and feeders. They need to be watched, but it’s more of a place for them to grow.”
Bartley and her husband, Chad, have been involved with the March of Dimes since 2006.
“We got involved after the passing of our first son,” she said, “and became aware of how the March of Dimes research helps premature babies and their families.”
She said she hopes the whole family will participate in next year’s walk.
“Two out of our four children were sick so I didn’t want to take them out of the house and expose them to anything else,” she said. “Next year we’ll all be involved. When they’re old enough to understand, I know the March of Dimes will mean something to them and it certainly means something to Chad and I.”
In addition to the walk, money was raised for the March of Dimes through a bake sale at the annual Kiwanis Home Recreation Show.
For more information about the March of Dimes, log onto www.marchofdimes.com.
