Corbin’s March for Babies planned for October. Money raised from event to help prevent birth defects, premature birth.
By Sean Bailey / Staff Writer
Jackson Reece came into the world 29 weeks early and spent the first months of his life in the University of Kentucky Medical Center. His mother Amanda also spent weeks recovering after his birth.
Jackson only weighed two pounds and nine ounces when he was born. But thanks to help from the March of Dimes, Jackson made it through the rough first months and now year of his life.
“Now he weighs 24 and a half pounds and he’s crawling, he’s growing up. He’s a miracle to us and we want to thank the Lord. He’s the reason we got through this, but the March of Dimes certainly played a part in it all,” Marissa Boggs, Jackson’s grandmother, said.
Jackson is this year’s ambassador for the March of Dimes “March for Babies.”
March Of Dimes is a charitable organization that raises money to help prevent birth defects and premature birth. It was originally started by president Franklin Roosevelt to end the polio epidemic in children. By 1955, polio had been eliminated, and the group switched focus to birth defects and premature birth in general.
On Oct. 26 the Corbin chapter of March of Dimes will hold the March for Babies, a two-mile walk to raise money for the group and, as the group’s motto states, “help make a difference in the lives of millions of babies.”
Last year’s ambassador was at the March of Dimes organization meeting Tuesday. Madison Norris was born 14 weeks premature, only weighing one pound and six ounces. When she first got home from the hospital she had to take 14 different medications and was on oxygen.
“She doesn’t take any medicine, and she’s off the oxygen,” Erica Norris, Madison’s mother said happily. “She’ll be three in October and only weighs twenty pounds.”
Madison is a bit behind on the growth chart, but her family is hopeful for her future. During last year’s March for Babies drive, Madison’s family raised $4,000 for the organization.
Besides raising money for research, March of Dimes also aims to educate expectant mothers on how to prevent premature birth defects. Simple steps can be taken early in pregnancy, such as increasing intakes of folic acid — a vitamin found in orange juice.
The March for Babies is made of fundraising teams. Including one from Baptist Regional Medical Center, which has come up with a creative and funny way to raise money, a “hot legs” contest.
The group will start accepting pictures of the “best looking” male legs at the Canada Brother’s Auto parts store on Sep. 21. Team leader Laura Logan said the team will have a digital camera on hand, so all you’ll need to bring is your legs if you don’t have a photo.
Amanda Reece (left) and Marissa Boggs share little Jackson Reece's story at the March of Dimes meeting Tuesday. Jackson was born 29 weeks early and only weighed two pounds and nine ounces at birth.Photo by Sean Bailey/(Click for larger image)
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