Radio stations, hospital pitch in for March of Dimes

Imagine having a baby three months early who weighs only a pound and a half. You don't know if your child will survive. And you don't know why this happened. But 187 babies are born too soon every week in Missouri.

The March of Dimes is working hard to find out what causes babies to be born too soon and how it can be prevented.

The March of Dimes would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all of our volunteers and sponsors that have helped us raise awareness and funds in Southeast Missouri throughout our 2004 season. Without these vital people, we would not succeed in touching thousands of babies and families right here in our back yards.

We are continually asking for support from our community, and we are proud to say that our community has responded to our needs from polio to prematurity.

Our latest project is a type of radiothon. We invited DJs from throughout our 18 counties in our division to come tour the neo-natal intensive care unit at Southeast Missouri Hospital. These DJs then had the opportunity to interview families that have been touched by Southeast Missouri Hospital nurses, physicians and March of Dimes staff.

Our hopes are that these stations will then speak of the March of Dimes and air the interviews that they recorded to help raise awareness to the growing epidemic of prematurity on Monday and Tuesday.

We hope all will tune into the Withers Broadcasting Co.'s stations, KWKZ C106.1, KLUE 103, KDEX 102.3; Z95.5 The Bone; B104 & KFMO 1240 The Radio on Monday & Tuesday and call in at (800) 289-4805 to make pledges to help save babies.

Currently, 89 cents of every dollar raised goes back directly into our mission: to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality.

The Greater Missouri Chapter of the March of Dimes is a leader in our community for saving babies through research, advocacy, community services and education.

I feel extremely blessed that my family resides in such a caring and generous community. A special thank you goes to Southeast Missouri Hospital, all of the stations and our community for being a hero to the tiniest of babies.

Christy Rains is the Southeast Missouri division director of the March of Dimes.