March of Dimes: WalkAmerica April 24th...

[johnny861]

I'm participating in this year's WalkAmerica for March of Dimes and am raising money for the campaign to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality.


If you are interested in donating money for this cause, pm me or email me at johnny861@telnet.org.

OR

You, yourself, can become a walker and raise money for this cause!

http://www.walkamerica.org/




For those that are unfamiliar with the 5 year campaign:

What is the Prematurity Campaign?

Prematurity has been escalating steadily and alarmingly over the past
two decades. Between 1981 and 2001, the rate of premature births rose
from 9.4 percent to 11.9, an increase of more than 27 percent. Every
year more than 470,000 infants are born prematurely. That's roughly
comparable to the population of New Orleans or Cleveland.

Preterm delivery can happen to any pregnant woman. It's happening more
and more often. And, in nearly half the cases, no one knows why.

The March of Dimes is stepping up to the plate to take on this
devastating problem, to find out what causes it and how it can be
stopped.

About the Prematurity Campaign
The March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign is a five-year,
$75 million research, awareness and education campaign to help
families have healthier babies. The Campaign includes:
* Funding research to find the causes of premature birth.
* Educating families about the warning signs of premature labor and
what can be done to prevent it.
* Expanding access to health care coverage so that more women can
get prenatal care.
* Helping health care providers learn ways to help reduce the risk
of early delivery.

National Research Agenda on Prematurity
The March of Dimes is investing $75 million in research and education
and awareness programs to find the causes of premature birth, and to
develop ways to save babies from being born too soon. The campaign is
also advocating for a 5-year funding increase of $50 million to
support prematurity-related research being conducted under the aegis
of the National Institutes of Health.
Our Scientific Advisory Committee on Prematurity identified four key
components of an effective national research agenda:
1. Understanding the biological factors that trigger preterm labor
and premature rupture of the membranes (when the sac that holds
the baby inside the uterus breaks too soon).
2. Supporting clinical trials to prevent preterm labor and delivery,
and reduce risk through approaches such as: screening for and
treatinginfections; counseling on optimal weight and good
nutrition; assisting with smoking cessation; and helping with
stress management.
3. Improving treatment and outcomes for babies born prematurely.
4. Fundinginterdisciplinaryresearchtofind out why some
populations, such as African-American women and women who have
multiple births due to assisted reproductive techniques (ART),
have significantly higher rates of premature birth.

Why Prematurity
Prematurity is a silent crisis in America. Every year more than
470,000 infants are born prematurely, and prematurity is on the rise.
It now affects one out of every eight babies born in the United
States.
Prematurity takes a severe toll on Americas families and strains our
health care system.Each year, 100,000 children develop health
problems because of their early births. And prematurity is the leading
cause of death in the first month.
Why the March of Dimes
The March of Dimes has a 65-year history of saving America's children.
It was founded in 1938 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to
defeat polio, a dreaded disease that claimed the lives and limbs of
America's children in record numbers. Within 17 years, the Salk
vaccine was developed and polio was defeated.
The March of Dimes then turned its attention to an even greater
challengefighting birth defects and other infant health problems.
Over the past four decades, our lifesaving research, innovative
programs, and dedicated volunteers have saved millions of babies from
death and disability. With a track record of success in bringing
people together to solve complex health challenges, the March of Dimes
is uniquely qualified to take on the problem of prematurity.