Here's some things to keep in mind for your day at March For Babies:
Before the March - Visit all the tents, see the sponsors, use the restroom (especially the little ones!), and find your teammates.
During the March - Enjoy yourselves. Take notice of the Path of Hope signs, reminding us all of the reason we are walking. There will be water and restrooms available along the five mile route. And if you're unable to do the entire walk, there's a "Tiny Tot Turnaround" after the first mile.
After the March - Head to the Family Teams Tent and eat lunch, explore the other tents, and celebrate a job well done!
Apr 17, 2013
What to Bring
Strollers - (if
needed) – this is a long walk for little ones and we accommodate for strollers
on the shuttle buses and at the park. (please no bikes or roller blades)
Sunscreen - forecast calls for a sunny day. Time to break out the sunscreen and sunglasses!
Water - there will be water at the tent afterwards
and along the walk path at checkpoints, but it is always a good idea to bring
your own.
Snacks - you will want to bring snacks especially
if you have little ones. We will have lunch provided after the walk but
there won’t be any snacks passed out along the way.
Cash/Check Donations and Sponsor Form - Please
bring any cash and check donations to the Family Teams Tent either before or
after the walk. Please print off your Sponsor Form to ensure that the
donations are posted to the correct team. You MUST have your Sponsor Form
in order to pick up your incentive t-shirt for those that have raised over
$200.
Tennis Shoes - you will want to wear tennis shoes
for this event. The walk route is 5 miles, so good comfortable shoes are
a must!
When and Where?
We've got only a few days left before we all walk to help save the lives of babies! It's important to allot yourselves lots of time the morning of the March. Buses begin transporting people at 7:00am and we advise that all walkers plan on getting to Norbuck Park by 8:00 (see previous post on parking). Once you have gotten to to the park, please visit the tents set up especially for our Family Teams...
- Family Teams Tent - grab a donut, pick up your Tshirt (if you collected more than $200), and turn in any cash/check donations.
- Memorial Tent - visit for a quiet moment of remembrance for your baby that couldn't be at the walk with you, but will be in your heart with every step.
- Preemie Pit - congregate here (right by the stage) so that you're ready when the walk officially begins.
Apr 4, 2013
March For Babies Parking - A MUST READ!
It's important that your team have a plan for getting to Norbuck Park on the morning of Apirl 20th. The day of the March there will be NO PARKING at Norbuck
Park, so please start making your
plans now for how you will get to the walk site. Shuttles buses will be
running all morning from Mockingbird DART station and White Rock DART
station. Shuttles will be able to accommodate strollers. Free March for Babies Bus
Transportation to Norbuck Park is available from Valley View Mall and the Mockingbird
area as well.
Calling All T-Shirt Contest Entries!!!
The
deadline for the t-shirt contest is April 12th – that's only 8 days away! Don't forget to enter your family team
t-shirt! Please send a sample to
the March of Dimes office by Friday, April 12th for your chance to win! Winners
will be announced from stage at the March for Babies opening ceremony.
Send entries to:
March of Dimes Dallas Office
12660 Coit Rd, Suite 200
Dallas, TX 75251
Apr 3, 2013
The Tale of Two Tents
Besides walking on April 20th, the March For Babies offers a huge variety of things to do and see. Please take a moment to stop by one or both of the following tents dedicated especially to the Family Teams.
Family Teams Tent
This will be located at the starting line of the March For Babies in Norbuck
Park. It is where your team can meet before the walk, turn in cash
and check donations, and pick up incentive t-shirts for walkers that have
raised over $200. This will also be the place your team can meet after
the walk to eat a light lunch provided by McAlister's Deli. There will also be small snacks, fruit, and water available.
After the walk, we will have lots of family fun activities for the children. We are happy to announce the return of our Family Teams Tent Sponsors led by Rogers-O’Brien and the McAfee Family.
Memorial Tent
We are launching a new tent at March for Babies this year called the Memorial Tent. It
will be near the Family Teams Tent and will be a
place to remember. Many of our Family Teams are walking
in memory of a child that cannot be with them on March for Babies day. We know that for every little foot that can walk with us,
there are many others that are missing. We want to remember these
babies with you. If you are walking for a baby that left too soon,
please join us at the Memorial Tent before the walk. We have a special
gift for you and a Memorial Tree we would like your child to be a part of.
Mar 27, 2013
What to Expect
For all of the new family teams who are getting ready to walk in their first March For Babies, things can get pretty overwhelming. You probably have a million questions running through your mind...What will the day look like? How many people will be there? What kind of tshirts do people wear? What IS the Family Teams Tent? What do the Path of Hope signs look like?
To ease your mind, check out THIS VIDEO to see just some of the many highlights of last year's March For Babies. Enjoy!
To ease your mind, check out THIS VIDEO to see just some of the many highlights of last year's March For Babies. Enjoy!
Fun Incentive!
There is a great
incentive this month for you and your team to raise over $500! For any
team captain whose team raises over $500, your name will be placed in a drawing
for a chance to win TWO FREE MAVERICKS tickets! Game is Friday, April
12th Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets, Tipoff at 7:30. There are TWO
chances to WIN!!
Deadline Approaching!
Just a reminder that April 1st is the deadline for obtaining Family Team Sponsorships.
If you have already gotten one, please be sure that you have sent in the company’s completed Sponsorship
Agreement and that payment has been posted at the March of Dimes office NO LATER than April 1st!! Please
email Linda Bailey to confirm that she has received agreements for each sponsorship you’ve
obtained. It's important that no company get left off the banner
that has purchased a Platinum ($1000), Gold ($750), Silver ($500) or Bronze
($250) Sponsorship!
Linda Bailey
Family Teams Specialist
March of Dimes – Dallas Division
12660 Coit Rd, Ste 200
Dallas, TX 75251
Direct (972) 232-1370
Time is Ticking!
Before we know it, it’s going to be April and the March for
Babies will only be 20 days away! There’s
so much to get done before that day.
Here’s a quick list of things to be working on as your family team’s
Captain…
·
Send emails to get donations – family members, friends,
neighbors, co-workers, teachers, parents of your children’s friends, local
business owners, etc.
·
Recruit family and friends to walk with you on
April 20th
·
Post on Facebook/Twitter to get more donations.
·
Design and order your team’s T-shirts
·
Send in the names of businesses that have
sponsored your team so their names can be included on the Family Teams
Sponsorships Banner (send to: lbailey@marchofdimes.com)
·
Resend email to get more donations… you get the
drift here?
April 20th will be here before we know it! Let’s be determined to make this the most
successful March For Babies yet!
Mar 18, 2013
Thinking Back
This year will be my fifth time walking in the March for Babies event in Dallas. It's funny how my thoughts and emotions regarding this day have evolved over the years. Thinking back to 2009, I wasn't sure what to expect. After all, it had only been nine short months since we'd lost our second born son, Nash, to an undiagnosed heart defect. At the time, we were treading water; struggling to breathe, as we waded through some very deep grief. When my dear friend suggested we walk in memory of Nash, I remember thinking, "We can't get him back. We can't change what's happened. But we can do this. We can honor and remember our little boy." And so the first chapter of our March For Babies experience had begun.
In the months and days leading up to the March, I wasn't quite sure how our story fit in with the March of Dimes. From what I knew, the organization did a lot for premature babies and their families. My son was born at 39 weeks, healthy as could be... or so we thought. But after learning more about it, I found that the bottom line, when it came to MOD was: they help save babies. Through funding and research, they give babies the chance to live long and happy lives. I found out that in addition to prematurity, the March of Dimes uses this same funding and research to understand and battle infant mortality. Bingo. Now I had a fantastic organization, a connection to its mission, and a little boy's memory to share.
As the March grew closer, I became nervous as to whether or not this was the right thing to be doing. I kept going through the motions of getting ready for the day - fundraising, getting our t-shirts with Nash's name on the back, organizing my little group of walkers. The questions running through my mind were neverending. Would I be able to hold myself together for five entire miles without succumbing to a complete breakdown? Am I really strong enough to do this?
On the morning of the March in 2009, I was completely overwhelmed. We had about 15 people walking with us, through a misty, cold rain. I tried hard to hold it together. My feelings were all over the place...proud that we could do something in Nash's memory... blessed that we had raised so much money and received so much support from our family and friends... yet angry that I had a reason to be at the March in the first place... and scared that I would have to face this reality everyday for the rest of my life. As we walked the five miles, I just remember hoping that Nash was proud of us for what we were doing. My worries faded as we got to the finish, and I knew that we had done what we had set out to do.
The day Nash died, my husband and I vowed that even though he was only here for five months, we would do all we could to keep his memory alive. He had purpose. He was here for a reason. And maybe, just maybe, by helping the March of Dimes save babies, we can save families from our heartbreak. That evening, I wrote on my personal blog (www.bradandtracysievers.blogspot.com): I look forward to next year... By walking in this March, it feels like I am still "taking care" of my little boy. I am showing him that he mattered when he was here and he matters now.
***** Please use the comment section to share with us your first experience walking in the March For Babies. What were your feelings and emotions? What were your expectations? How did the day turn out? And for first time walkers, could you share what you're feeling as you get ready to walk for the very first time? We'd love to hear your stories...
In the months and days leading up to the March, I wasn't quite sure how our story fit in with the March of Dimes. From what I knew, the organization did a lot for premature babies and their families. My son was born at 39 weeks, healthy as could be... or so we thought. But after learning more about it, I found that the bottom line, when it came to MOD was: they help save babies. Through funding and research, they give babies the chance to live long and happy lives. I found out that in addition to prematurity, the March of Dimes uses this same funding and research to understand and battle infant mortality. Bingo. Now I had a fantastic organization, a connection to its mission, and a little boy's memory to share.
As the March grew closer, I became nervous as to whether or not this was the right thing to be doing. I kept going through the motions of getting ready for the day - fundraising, getting our t-shirts with Nash's name on the back, organizing my little group of walkers. The questions running through my mind were neverending. Would I be able to hold myself together for five entire miles without succumbing to a complete breakdown? Am I really strong enough to do this?
On the morning of the March in 2009, I was completely overwhelmed. We had about 15 people walking with us, through a misty, cold rain. I tried hard to hold it together. My feelings were all over the place...proud that we could do something in Nash's memory... blessed that we had raised so much money and received so much support from our family and friends... yet angry that I had a reason to be at the March in the first place... and scared that I would have to face this reality everyday for the rest of my life. As we walked the five miles, I just remember hoping that Nash was proud of us for what we were doing. My worries faded as we got to the finish, and I knew that we had done what we had set out to do.
The day Nash died, my husband and I vowed that even though he was only here for five months, we would do all we could to keep his memory alive. He had purpose. He was here for a reason. And maybe, just maybe, by helping the March of Dimes save babies, we can save families from our heartbreak. That evening, I wrote on my personal blog (www.bradandtracysievers.blogspot.com): I look forward to next year... By walking in this March, it feels like I am still "taking care" of my little boy. I am showing him that he mattered when he was here and he matters now.
***** Please use the comment section to share with us your first experience walking in the March For Babies. What were your feelings and emotions? What were your expectations? How did the day turn out? And for first time walkers, could you share what you're feeling as you get ready to walk for the very first time? We'd love to hear your stories...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)