WICU Story

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They gathered at rainbow gardens, danced, laughed and shared their stories about babies. The 37th annual March of Dimes "March for Babies" started at Rainbow Gardens in Waldemeer Park and continued for 6.2miles through Presque Isle.
The March of Dimes is celebrating their 70th year and have saved millions of lives including the daughter of this year's ambassador family, Isabella Wood. "Our daughter Isabella was born 2 weeks early and weighted only 3lbs. Without an organization like the March of Dimes Isabella wouldn't be here and be so healthy as she is today," said Carlee Wood, Isabella's Mom.
"We're here to March because of the research that the March of Dimes does to help give premature babies, like Isabella, a fighting chance," stated Perry Wood, Isabella's father.
But not all babies are as fortunate as Isabella, "the rate of prematurity is on the rise with 1 in 8 babies being born premature, that's a very real and scary statistic," stated Laura King, the Event Coordinator. But an even with the rise of prematurity, birth defects are the number one cause of death during a child's first year of life.
Howard and Kristy Bolte know how devastating birth defects can be for a family. They were walking for their sons Issac and Asher. "In 2005 we had a son who was born with a condition called microcephaly and we were only able to have him for 6 days and he passed away. And in February of this year we had another son born with the same defect and he was only with us for thirty-five minutes," said Kristy. Howard stood by holding their son Benjamin while Kristy spoke, they showed the strength and dedication to a cause they hope one day can be prevent birth defects, "we started walking in 2005 when we had our son Isaac and we walk so that the March of Dimes can raise money to prevent defects like this from happening," continued Kristy.
Over the past seventy years the March of Dimes has supported countless families and have helped save millions of babies. But the fight continues with the hope that "one day, all babies will be born healthy."
Kelsie Smith