The race is on for the 44th Annual March for Babies Walk, as volunteers get teams ready for the walk Saturday, April 5, at Wailoa State Park in Hilo.
Everyone is invited to “take that extra step for our littlest keiki to help fight prematurity and infant mortality,” said spokeswoman and Hilo March for Babies coordinator Eden Patino.
To register your team online, visit www.marchforbabies.org. Contact Patino at 987-0118 or email epatino@marchofdimes.com for more information.
About 4 million babies were born in the United States last year, and the March of Dimes helped each and every one through research, education, vaccines and breakthroughs. Join the organization at March for Babies, along with Team Cutler.
Patino said the “Hilo March for Babies Ambassador” is truly a miracle baby.
“Jodi Reese and Fabian Medeiros were excited parents looking forward to growing their family. However, their little baby, Cutler Kahooikaikaipilipalua Medeiros, was born at 28 weeks,” she said. “Cutler spent a little over two months in the newborn intensive care unit of the Kapiolani Medical Center before going home.
“Cutler was born on March 28, 2012, at 3:28 p.m., weighing only 2 lbs, 14 oz. When he was born, Cutler was on a continuous positive airway pressure machine for two days and to the amazement of the doctors, he started to breathe on his own,” said Patino. “Cutler gained strength and weight daily and was able to fly to his hometown Hilo, Hawaii, in June 2012. He is a big Bears football fan and loves to make trouble to his older sisters and brothers.
“Today, the Medeiros family are blessed and thankful to the March of Dimes for all the love and support they have provided. Today, Cutler is a vibrant 23-month-old, and the family is dedicated to making sure other families don’t experience the same trauma — or, have the same happy ending.”
On walk day at Wailoa State Park, registration begins at 7 a.m., with an opening ceremony at 7:30 a.m. and walk beginning at 8 a.m. Area residents are encouraged to register and raise funds for lifesaving research and educational programs at marchforbabies.org.
Funds raised by March for Babies in Hilo support the March of Dimes Hawaii Chapter and NICU Family Support. Sponsors are HMAA, Longs Drugs, Hawaii News Now, Bank of Hawaii, UHA, HMSA, Hawaii Pacific Health, Matson Foundation and Hawaiian Tug &Barge. The March for Babies is sponsored nationally by the March of Dimes No. 1 corporate supporter Kmart, Macy’s, Cigna, Famous Footwear, Sanofi Pasteur, Mission Pharmacal, United Airlines and Actavis.
