med.uth.tmc.edu
On May 3, 2015, Saint Xavier University plans to host the March for Babies at the Chicago campus to raise money and awareness for the March of Dimes Foundation.
Beginning at 8:30am and ending at noon, the March for Babies is a family-oriented walk which will raise funds for research and aid to women who gave birth prematurely.
Margaret Cashman, the outreach community manager at SXU, explains how the university became involved with the event and why it is being held at the Chicago campus this year rather than the Orland Park campus.
“I am the Outreach and Communications Manager for Adult Degree Completion programs at SXU and was approached by […] Jeanette Igwe, Community Director for March of Dimes, to host the walk at our Orland Park Campus. We will have a walking trail next to our Orland Park Campus but it will not be ready in time for this walk so we agreed to have it at our Chicago Campus for this year,” said Cashman.
Jeanette Igwe has been the Community Director for two years and comments that her favorite part of the organization is seeing families and community members come together to support, and bring awareness to, such a great cause.
Igwe also mentions some of the local community partners who help make March of Babies a great success. “Our sponsors for the event are Beverly Bank & Trust, Advocate Children’s Hospital-Oak Lawn, 1st Response Ambulance EMS, and [other] community businesses,” said Igwe.
Also in coordination of this event, Connie Taylor, the South Suburban Ambassador Mom and a student at SXU, has a personal story to go along with why she and her family participate in the walk every year.
“I am currently a graduate student in the Graham School of Management. I am pursuing my MBA in Human Resource Management and am currently on track to graduate August 2016. My daughter, MySean Trinity Doby, has been selected as the 2015 Ambassador for the South Suburban March of Dimes,” said Taylor.
Taylor’s daughter, MySean, was born nearly three months early at Advocate South Suburban Hospital.
As a result, she spent a month and a half in University of Illinois at Chicago’s (UIC) intensive care unit where she underwent multiple blood transfusions and other tests that would not have been provided had it not been for the March of Dimes Foundation.
“Every year, thousands of babies and families are affected by premature births. Every baby has the right to being welcomed into the world strong and healthy; unfortunately this is not [always] the case for premature babies and their families.
Besides the physical challenges, there are emotional challenges [as well], such as going home without your baby.”
By being involved with the March of Dimes, [participants help] raise money for research [which provides] more resources for prevention and treatment. This walk is to raise money and awareness towards the research and fight against premature births,” said Taylor.
On the day of the walk, SXU is expecting to see around 1,000 people in attendance. Across the nation, the March for Babies sees around 7 million participants each year, with nearly 700 communities in participation.
Across Illinois, about 20,000 people participate in the March for Babies. In addition to outstanding participation, the March for Babies is proud to say that they were the first and largest walk event and that they continue to go strong today.
For anyone interested in becoming a part of this memorable experience, and to help a great cause, there are a few ways to go about doing so. By visiting the official March of Dimes website at marchofdimes.org, students and faculty can sign up to walk.
An important factor to remember is to choose Saint Xavier as the team to join. Another way to get more information about the event is to contact Margaret Cashman at cashman@sxu.edu.
If students or faculty are interested in participating with the event, but are not interested in walking, there are also a few volunteer positions available which can be arranged through Cashman.
Everyone who participates feels good to be supporting such a great foundation.
On ending notes, Taylor expresses one of her favorite aspects of the March for Babies event. “My absolute favorite part is seeing all of the survivors and seeing how strong, healthy and active they [have] become!” said Taylor.
Be sure to keep up with the March of Dimes foundation and become a part of this event today!
Julie Gardner
News Editor
About Post Author
