March for Babies Set for Saturday at Tugaloo State Park

The 2014 March of Dimes campaign is well underway and on Saturday, Franklin County will join Stephens County at Tugaloo State Park for the annual March for Babies walk.

Franklin County’s kick-off event was held in May at the Lavonia Train Depot.  This year’s goal in Franklin County is $32,800.  So far, just over $12,000 has been raised.

The Lavonia Police Department got the fundraising for 2014 off to a good start in March by raising some $6,000 just selling t-shirts.

Ashley Young-Roesler is the Division Director for the March of Dimes Central Georgia Division.   Young-Roesler praised officers for their hard work and said it set a precedent in the State of Georgia.

“That’s never been done before,” she said. “They now have the attention of the entire state chapter and I cannot wait to show them what we can do. We have the potential to grow this walk from the $32,000 goal to twice that and we can do it.” – See more at: https://921wlhr.com/franklin-county-kicks-off-2014-march-for-babies-campaign/#sthash.qWRO5SGY.dpuf

“That’s never been done before,” she said. “They now have the attention of the entire state chapter and I cannot wait to show them what we can do. We have the potential to grow this walk from the $32,000 goal to twice that and we can do it.”

kickoff-1Franklin County’s Ambassador Family is NJ and Brittany Parker, proud parents of twin girls Emma and Ella, who were born at 25 weeks and weighed a pound and a half each.

NJ Parker said the babies’ first 19 days in the NICU went well until Emma was diagnosed with a rare condition.

“On the 19th day, Emma was diagnosed with a disease called Necrotizing Enterocolitis, or NEC and she had to be transferred to Egleston Children’s Hospial,” he said.

Emma, Parker said, was also diagnosed with an eye disease that could have left her blind, but because of the March of Dimes, was able to receive treatment and has recovered.  Now, he said both girls are doing well and Emma continues to improve and gain weight.

Parker said they could not have made it through without the help of the March of Dimes.

Tomorrow’s March for Babies starts at 10a.  Registration begins at 9a.  You do not have to be on a team to participate.