It’s time for the 2011 March for Babies, the March of Dimes’ biggest fundraiser. There are walks in cities all over the nation. We Spohrs are ready to walk for Maddie for the fourth year in a row. By participating, we are helping The March of Dimes champion the needs of families and babies in our community and across the nation. The money we raise for March for Babies will support lifesaving research, services, education and advocacy that help babies get a healthy start – babies like Madeline’s sister Annabel, who made it to full term thanks in large part to medical advances championed by the March of Dimes.
Last year we were YET AGAIN the biggest family team in Los Angeles, and one of the top family teams in the country. Two years in a row! Woo hoo! Madeline would be so proud. Our team goal is $20,000 – no small feat – but we want to continue our streak as the biggest team in Los Angeles. Beyond LA, we’re hoping that everyone who has walked in Maddie’s name in year’s past will walk again. And to everyone who hasn’t walked yet, we hope this will be the year you join, or even start, a team.
Joining a team means more to my family than any of you may realize. April is hard and emotional, and after the sadness we feel at the beginning of the month, knowing that we will see (either in person or via photos and emails) so many people supporting and remembering Maddie…honestly it’s a light that leads us through.
In the last three years, literally thousands of people opened their hearts and wallets and donated to the March of Dimes in honor of my beautiful daughter, Madeline. The donations that came in after Madeline passed completely blew my family away, and made sure that millions of people, including lawmakers, know the name Maddie Spohr. As a parent, I am proud and humbled.
I only ask for donations for the two most important causes in my life – The March of Dimes and the charity we started in Maddie’s name, Friends of Maddie, which strives to help parents with children in NICUs across the country. This year, I am asking you to consider two options for donating.
The first is the most obvious – donating directly to the March of Dimes through my link here. Every little bit helps, even if it’s only a quarter! In 2009, 90% of the donations our team received were for $10 or less – and we were the top family team in the nation!
The second is a new fundraiser we’re running this year – March for Maddie shirts! Shirts can be purchased here:
http://friendsofmaddie.org/index.php/shop/
Shirt sales are open to everyone (worldwide!), and all proceeds are going towards Team March for Maddie and Friends of Maddie. If you want to wear a shirt at your walk this year, be sure to order them ASAP (no later than noon on April 15)!
If you’re in Los Angeles, we would be honored if you would march with us. You can sign up HERE to join the original March For Maddie team. If you are elsewhere in the country and have started a team, there is a linky widget at the bottom of this post to list your team so others near you can join. Not a team in your area? Start one! Or, if there isn’t a walk near you, join our team as a marcher in spirit.
Thank you again for everything you have done for my family, and in turn, thousands of other families. We miss Madeline so much, but knowing that there are people all over the world that have been touched by her is indescribable. We are all doing amazing things in her memory.
If you have any questions, PLEASE don’t hesitate to email me at thespohrs at gmail dot com.
Marching for Maddie? Please leave your city and team name, along with a link to your team, in the linky widget below.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
InDueTime says:
I’m going to try to do a giveaway on my blog soon to help raise money in honor of Maddie for the March of Dimes.
I’ll drop you a line when I get it together.
Wish I was closer so I could walk with you guys, but I’ll be there in spirit.
Lisa says:
I’m so bummed to be missing the walk this year. It was one of the first things I thought about when we were planning our trip to Australia was that we were going to miss out on walking for Maddie this year. I’ll be with all the walkers in spirit on the big walk day.
Of course, not being there doesn’t stop me from donating so I’ll be sure to do my part in that department. I love the shirt design this year so I may have pick up one of those too.
Love and hugs to you all. The work you do in honor of the March of Dimes is inspiring.
Mijke says:
Do you know if there are international Walks, too? I live in the Netherlands, and I couldn’t find anything on Google. If there aren’t any in the Netherlands yet, do you know if it’s possible to start one in a country other than the US?
Ashley Petteys says:
I messed up! My link is for a BOSTON team I just created. The walk is on May 7. Join us!
Miss you Spohrs!
Ann says:
Heather, yesterday your topic was “twins”. Conincidentally, after I read your article, someone sent me the following YouTube link of two baby boy twins having a conversation. I immediately thought of your post and knew you would love to see this. I hope it makes you smile!
Janelle says:
I would love to order a couple of shirts but when I went to the checkout, it said you didn’t ship to my location – we’re in the US Virgin Islands – if you are shipping by USPS, it’s considered domestic, not international. =( We will donate anyway! =)
Heather says:
really? Let me look into that!
Janelle says:
Nevermind! If I checked out with PayPal, it let it go through. Hopefully that means they do ship here! =)
Janelle says:
Ugh – nevermind again! I got all the way through the checkout process and when I hit “Submit Order”, I got this warning:
Order Failed.
A match of the Shipping Address City, State, and Postal Code failed.
I tried a few different ways to enter my address but nothing would work. =(
AmazingGreis says:
Can’t wait to see you in a few weeks and walk with you all again!!! XOXO
kbreints says:
Donation made! Good luck this year!
Elizabeth says:
Going to donate for sure! I might even pick up a shirt, the design is very cute.
Mommy says:
Donation made, shirts ordered…. Would you consider doing a onesie for the tiniest “walkers”? Or could you have the Maddie logo you made turned into an iron-on so we could make our own onesies? My little guy will only be 3 months at the time of the walk, but I would love for him to support Friends of Maddie along with us.
Also, what shirt size do you think would work for the preggos?
I am honored to walk in memory of your darling girl!
Aubrey says:
Me and my kids walked last year for Madeline. I have all the pictures. They listened to your story as we walked and read all the stories on the boards along the walk too. They asked if we were walking again this year. I am hoping our team will be a little bigger this year. Our walk is April 30. I am still recruiting people and trying to raise money. I will be ordering us shirts next week!
Amanda says:
My boyfriend is in LA so maybe I can swing a trip down to LA to walk with you guys this year. If not, Alison and I will be marching in Sacramento like we have been!
Maddie made purple one of my favorite colors. It’s even the color of the flower on my tattoo (my non-twin related tattoo).
Stephanie M says:
Thanks for the reminder, Heather! I’m all signed up, and can’t wait to see you all again at the walk.
Kelley says:
Paige and I have walked the past two years and will be walking (with her baby sister!) again this year. Our walk in Cincinnati is the 17th and I’m ready to show my support with my fellow team members
Diane V says:
Donated this morning. Also will volunteer at 2 March for Babies walks again this year.
Have you ever thought about printing the ABC book you got for Annie’s shower as a fundraiser?
Meg...CT says:
You are an inspiration to many…thinking of you always, but especially during the month of April. Peace to you and your family.
March of Dimes will have my support again, in memory of your beautiful girl, Maddie.
k says:
I’ll be donating for 2 Maddies this year. A friend of mine lost her Madalyn, born 8 weeks early, on April 30, 2010. Her family started a team for the local March for Babies and I was hoping to walk, but I can’t get the day off from work.
Auntie Nettie says:
In honor of Maddie, and the many other little angels in my life, my team of me, myself, and I will be “marching” near Lincoln Center in the Big Apple on May 1st. Just a single person making a small contribution to an important cause — in memory of a single person who made a tremendous difference.
Courtney says:
I just formed a team for D.C.’s walk on May 7th. I encourage everyone in the D.C. area to donate in Maddie name and join me! https://www.marchforbabies.org/team_dashboard.asp?SeId=1561157&si=375C1557-3705-44BF-A3D5-9883B3DC092D&ft=1&creating_team=yes
Skye says:
Hi Courtney! Thanks for forming the DC team. I live in the DC area and I’m interested, but when I click on the link, it says: “For security reasons you have been logged out. To access your March for Babies information, you will need to login below. We apologize for any inconvenience.” Is there any way you can post a link so people can see walk information without having to log in? Thank you! Maybe I’ll see you there! (I’m recovering from a dislocated knee, but hopefully will be fine by then.)
Courtney says:
Sorry! This should be the corrected link. Please let me know if it doesn’t work. http://www.marchforbabies.org/s_team_page.asp?seid=1561157
Courtney says:
Sorry! This should be the corrected link. Please let me know if it doesn’t work. http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/t1561157
Skye says:
It works now. Thank you!
Katrina @ They All Call Me Mom says:
Yay, this year I can make it! No soccer tournaments scheduled. Very cool. So I signed up and now just have to get donations! The shirt from the registration is just a general March of Dimes shirt, right? Not the Maddie shirt? Because I want the Maddie shirt. So I think I need to order that separately.
Okay then…see you on April 30th – can’t wait to walk! or run. or maybe I’ll mix it up a bit and do a little bit of both
PENNY says:
Hello. I started a team for Gonzales, Louisiana, anyone near there, please feel to join and walk with us for Maddie.
Heather, our walk is on April 16th, do you think you would be able to send out the Maddie shirts by then? Thanks!
Penny says:
I made a team for the walk in Gonzales, Louisiana, anyone near there feel free to join!
http://www.marchforbabies.org/s_team_page.asp?SeId=1560884&si=
Heather, I ordered two Maddie shirts, do you think they will be ready by April 16th? That’s when my walk is and I would love to wear it.
Thanks!
amanda says:
I will definitely, absolutely be donating in honor of the beautiful and sassy Miss Maddie!
Kandi Ann says:
I am getting married on the 7th. And it was totally intentional. Boogie’s Birthday and also my Fiance’s Birthday is the 7th. I will remember Maddie with love and joy that she was here on earth for all of us to adore. I told my Fiance that I was set on not getting married on his birthday and that he should have his own day. Then when I thought about it, I said, we would if its Boog’s and Maddie’s Day. And it is. So we are. We know Maddie is in Heaven and we will all rejoice with her one day. Until then, she will never be forgotten. xoxo, Kandi Ann