Thursday, May 13, 2004

WalkAmerica set Saturday

Event raises funds for March

of Dimes

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Julie Hellendrung shudders to think about it, but she admits that without the March of Dimes research that helps premature babies, her daughter Tamara likely would not have survived.

Born at 29 weeks, she weighed in at 2 pounds, 4 ounces at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. After three weeks in an incubator, she spent 25 days in a neonatal intensive care unit with surfactant therapy. Tamara came home after five weeks in the hospital weighing 3 pounds, 12 ounces.

"She wouldn't have survived without the research done by the March of Dimes," said Julie.

Now a third-grader at St. Anthony Elementary, Tamara will ride her three-wheeled bike in the 2004 New Ulm WalkAmerica that starts and finishes at the Brown County Fairgrounds Saturday, May 15. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with a 9:30 a.m. start.

Tamara has mild cerebral palsy that affects her motor skills, but she is learning to play the piano. Her favorite song is "Music Makes Me Glad."

She enjoys watching "Zoom," an educational television show.

Other favorites include studying English and writing about her summer vacation.

Premature birth continues to be a serious and growing problem in America, affecting one of every eight babies. It's the leading cause of infant death, affecting more than 476,000 babies each year.

Some of the babies that survive suffer life-long consequences like chronic health conditions and developmental disabilities.

Average hospital charges for the most severe premature births are nearly 60 times higher than for newborn stays without complications.

The public is asked to join hundreds of walkers Saturday for the WalkAmerica. The local event starts and finishes at the fairgrounds.

Last year, New Ulm raised more than $31,000. The 2004 goal is to raise more than $33,000. Seventy-six cents of every dollar raised will go to March of Dimes research, advocacy, community services and education.