Shirts are now available here!
As you all probably know by now, the March of Dimes is a cause near and dear to the Spohr family. If it hadn’t been for the advances in neonatal care that were made possible by the MoD, we wouldn’t have had our Madeline for seventeen months – she wouldn’t have made it 24 hours.
After Madeline’s premature birth, Mike and I swore we would do what we could to help other families whose babies faced the same battle. Our resolve only grew after Maddie passed, and we fervently support the March of Dimes – a wonderful organization that gave us much support in our time of need.
The March of Dimes’ biggest fundraiser is the March For Babies. There are walks in cities all over the nation. The Spohr family is very excited to once again take part. 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, our team March For Maddie, was the biggest family team in Los Angeles, and raised more money than any other family team in the ENTIRE COUNTRY. Across the United States, there were over fifty teams that raised an additional forty THOUSAND dollars, bringing the total amount raised in Maddie’s name to over ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. Amazing.
We know we’ll never live up to last year when it comes to money raised – although we do want to hit our team goal of $20,000 – but we’re hoping we will still be the biggest team in Los Angeles. Beyond that, we’re hoping that everyone who walked in Maddie’s name last year will walk again. And to everyone who didn’t walk last year, we hope this will be the year you join, or even start, a team.
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 below 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. And, we are exceedingly grateful to anyone who donates to our cause – you can give by clicking on the March of Dimes widget in the sidebar on the right.
There will be shirts soon for anyone who wants one – I’ll post the link to order them ASAP.
Thank you all for loving our daughter. 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.
Kisha Floren says:
I started a team in honor of my preemie, Katelyn, who was born at 33 weeks. Thanks to the amazing neonatal care she received, she is now a happy and healthy 3 year old who will be walking with us! We are walking in honor of Maddie and all the other preemies who fought so hard to survive. We would more than welcome anyone who would like to join us in Seattle!!!
.-= Kisha Floren´s last blog ..Two Peas in a Pod…Somewhat. =-.
EmmieJ says:
See you in 36 days.
.-= EmmieJ´s last blog ..Getting Fresh with Emmie and Mel – Week 2: Cauliflower =-.
MazingAmy says:
I’ll be there my friend. In LA, of course.
Ella says:
I’m a bit too far away over here in Australia but I’ve made a donation to sponsor you instead. Lots of love xxx
Ray says:
Never say never Heather. That much money can be raised again. What was done once can be duplicated. I didn’t know “March For Maddie” raised the most money in the entire country. That’s PHENOMENAL! And it speaks volumes for just HOW MUCH Maddie is LOVED! I’m going to go to the official site to see how I can involve myself and my family.
LOTS OF LOVE TO THE SPOHR FAMILY!!! =D
<3<3<3
Untypically Jia says:
The walk here in Albuquerque is on May 8th and I started a March for Maddie team. I wish like hell I could be there in LA to walk with y’all, but know that we’ll be walking, miles and miles away, and thinking of your family – and Maddie.
InDueTime says:
We’ll be walking here in Tallahassee, FL.
.-= InDueTime´s last blog ..Show & Tell: Monopoly =-.
dysfunctional mom says:
We’ll be walking in Gainesville FL in memory of my husband’s firstborn son, who passed away at 3 weeks old, and all of the other preemie babies.
xoxo
Erica says:
Good Morning dear sweet Heather,
I’m a bit far away over here in Europe to join you in LA but I shall be with you all in spirit and shall of course be making a donation to this wonderful cause in honour of your precious Maddie. I am always so in awe of the postive energy and enthusiasm you channel into causes near to your heart. You set such an example for all of us, Heather, you are such an amazing lady with such amazing strength and courage. Your World Famous Maddie is amazing too – just like her Mum. Heather, your Maddie has made the most profound impact on my life and not a day goes bye when I don’t think about your amazing little girl, one of a kind – just like her Mum. The world is a better place for having Maddie in it.
Wishing you, Mike, Annie and Rigby a lovely week-end and hopefully one with lots of sleep for all of you!!
With love and hugs
Erica in Luxembourg
jen says:
You know my story. All I can say, again, is thank you for what you do for preemies.
You have an amazing spirit.
(((Hugs))) from here! Have a great weekend!
.-= jen´s last blog ..nerves =-.
Lynn from For Love or Funny says:
We’ll donate in Maddie’s name.
.-= Lynn from For Love or Funny´s last blog ..Happiness is… =-.
Angela says:
My best friend and I are walking in Carson City Nevada on May 1, for Maddie and for her daughter who was born prematurely last September.
.-= Angela´s last blog ..Changes are coming! =-.
Angela says:
Still walking in Carson – but I’m going to be in LA as well!
Ragan says:
We walk in honor of our Ella born over 2 1/2 months early and very sick and in memory of our 7 babies that didn’t make it to be born. This year we will also walk in memory of Maddie and will put a flower for her in our memorial gardens. If you are in the Nashville area please come walk with Team Ella. To see Ella’s side of her story go to http://www.Marchforbabies.org/ellamassey .
Jen says:
I wish we were still in LA, we moved away about a year and half ago. I would have loved to have marched for Maddie in LA. My mom’s group was talking about putting together a group in DC, so I hope we can still support. We lost our baby when I was 24 weeks pregnant this past December and it means even more to me now.
Beth says:
Is there a March for Maddie in Chicago? I would love to be a part of it. Let me know.
Kristi Gravemann says:
We had one in the suburbs of Chicago but had to switch to the one in Rockford because of scheduling conflicts. You are welcome to join us on May 2. marchforbabies.org/doitforher
amanda says:
I wish I could join you guys! Going to donate now. I heart Maddie!!
xo from CT,
Amanda
.-= amanda´s last blog ..croup is poop. =-.
Alexandra says:
We’ll be walking and donating in Maddie’s name!!!
.-= Alexandra´s last blog ..But, We Would’ve Been So Good Together! =-.
AmazingGreis says:
I started the Houston team, but will be in LA marching with you all!! Can not wait to see you in a month.
.-= AmazingGreis´s last blog ..Let the MADNESS begin… =-.
Heather says:
I’m so excited!
Lamb says:
Who says you can’t raise that much money again this year?
I’ve never participated in anything like this before, but you have me feeling motivated! I’m going to look into what it takes to get a team together and find out which location is closest.
I wonder if I would be allowed to wear the shirt to work (it’s a pediatric office, so it seems appropriate)
Good luck everyone!
.-= Lamb´s last blog ..Our Dog Katie =-.
Gina says:
We’ll be marching in honor of Maddie again this year in Pittsburgh.
.-= Gina´s last blog ..Playing Favorites =-.
Lisa says:
I started a team in St. Louis. My experience last year walking for Maddie was very profound and I knew as I left that day that I would be walk every year for her and for the other people in my life who have been touched by prematurity, including my baby brother who was born 8 weeks early and is now 19 years old.
Love and hugs.
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..Fostering a Love of Reading =-.
ally (adil320) says:
I so wish I was coming to walk with you in LA. I think I am going to try to make that a goal for next year.
This year I will be marching in my town with Maddie in me heart.
xoxoxo
Rebecca says:
Where are the readers of this blog that’s from St. Louis? I saw a March For Maddie-St. Louis. That’s where I live.
.-= Rebecca´s last blog ..Pre-Medicated =-.
Jamie says:
Rebecca,
I am not sure if there is a direct team set up for Maddie this year in St. Louis but I can ask the head of the MO chapter and get back to you. If not, you are always welcome to join our team “Adali’s Angels”and walk with usin Forest Park on APril 24th. We will always walk for our daughter and with Maddie in our hearts. Here is a link.
http://tinyurl.com/yjemc52
Jamie
.-= Jamie´s last blog ..pretty much sums it up =-.
Molly says:
I love that picture of Madeline–she is just radiant. I will definitely be donating in her honor!
Jamie says:
Heather,
We will always march for our daughter, Adali and with Maddie in our hearts!
Jamie
.-= Jamie´s last blog ..pretty much sums it up =-.
Amy says:
Are there any walks in Canada? Is The MoD international? I would love to help, but I just want to make sure that it would benefit my children at the same time, should the need ever arise. I can”t seem to find the info I need, maybe you already know. Thanks and good luck!
Heather says:
There aren’t any walks in Canada that I’m aware of. The MoD is a United States charity, but the research they fund benefits babies born all over the world!
Amy says:
Good to know! I will do what I can then! Good luck with the fundraising, can’t wait see how much you guys raise!
Laura says:
Can’t wait to March for Maddie!!
KateB says:
Just joined Lisa’s team in St. Louis. Thanks for inspiring me and so many others. I think of you and your family daily. God bless you all!
Kristi Gravemann says:
O.K. how do I fix my link? I am a nitwit and put my own name in there!
Kristi Gravemann says:
O.k. I added the correct information but now I’m on there twice with one link that just says my name. Sorry!
Heather says:
I fixed it for you! Thanks, Kristi!
Lindsay says:
We are Marching on May 8th, in Akron, OH for our little girl Julianna, who was more than 12 weeks premature. This our third year walking…our first was just one month after she was discharged from the NICU! This year we will be joined by her little brother (scheduled to arrive this Monday!) who thankfully has made it to 36 weeks despite all the same complications Julianna’s pregnancy had!
Good luck to everyone marching this year!
.-= Lindsay´s last blog ..36 weeks =-.
Trisha Vargas says:
I will be marching with you here in Florida on the 24th.
Last year, I signed up to do the walk blindly, without a reason other than I had a healthy 6 month old baby girl and wanted all Mom’s to have that.
Shortly after signing up I learned about Maddie and your family. I have never been this inspired or more dedicated to help in a cause such as this and thank you for that. I will march every year and always think of Maddie.
(((HUGS))) from Florida
red pen mama says:
Just put the badge on my Facebook page. I’ll be walking with the same Pittsburgh group as last year! I’ll be posting about it later.
.-= red pen mama´s last blog ..Lost: Recon =-.
Randi says:
I don’t comment very often. I don’t have a lot of money but I did donate to your team! Consider me there in spirit when you March for Maddie. Good luck reaching your goal! I don’t think you’ll have a problem!
Undomestic Diva says:
Will be Marching for Maddie in L.A. Can’t wait. xoxo
.-= Undomestic Diva´s last blog .."I am also a nose picker" =-.
Colleen says:
Very proud to March for Maddie in Jacksonville, FL!
.-= Colleen´s last blog ..Cough, Cough, Hi, Cough =-.
Jessica says:
We will be Marching for Maddie in Silicon Valley. We’re just a little team but we’re getting shirts and everything! Very excited to be a part of it this year! And I’m so sorry that I am a dumb blonde and didn’t check my team name before I clicked ok when setting it up. It has cut off the “e” in Maddie. I’ll try to make up for it by surpassing my fund raising goal!
MrsP says:
I’m not completely positive, but I will do my best to march for Maddie. This will be my first time and I’m excited.
.-= MrsP´s last blog ..My Grandpa =-.
Elizabeth says:
We marched with you last year and will be there again this year.
Leslie says:
We wouldn’t miss it!
Amber McN says:
We will be marching in Grand Blanc, MI in April. I had a healthy premiee but it could have been a disaster. I had HELLP.
I march for the moms that get HELLP, for my son and for Maddie.
Mariah says:
I was there last year and I’ll be there again this year!!
.-= Mariah´s last blog ..Confession =-.
Marisol says:
I cannot make it to the Houston walk, but instead I gave a small donation. I hope this helps. And i hope you all get soo many people to participate!! Good day.
.-= Marisol´s last blog ..Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage =-.
Amy Collen says:
Hey lady!
I am definitely going to try and get my butt down there and march with you (with the kiddos in tow). I am working out the arrangements now. Yes, I also want the purple shirt :). So excited. Will be ordering that too when it is available. I will be bringing my beautiful boys Frank and Sam. Sam spent 5 months in the NICU (he was a micropreemie at 1lb 11oz) and is now doing great. Frank spent 1 day in the NICU. Our running joke is that all the Collen boys have to do time in the NICU. Their dear brother Noah was Sam’s twin (and micropreemie also) and passed away after 6 days. I am SO HAPPY to be honoring all three of them plus your beautiful Madeline. YAYYYYY!!!!!!!
Kelley says:
I will be marching in Colorado Springs, CO with my daughter, cousin, and cousin’s little boy (2nd cousin?). I am so excited and so happy to be able to walk again in Maddie’s memory.
Lex - @laprimera says:
I’ll be there with you on April 24! xoxo
.-= Lex – @laprimera´s last blog ..check myself =-.
Marti from Michigan says:
I’m going to look into the one here in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I believe it was in mid-April last year. I walk for a lot of things – hunger, diabetes (all 4 of my siblings have it), Right to Life, and Early Infant Death (my own baby 36 years ago, and my nephew in 1988). I will look into the March for Babies this year in this area.
Due to the economic crisis and losing a job 4 years ago, I have very little money, but will make a small donation as soon as I am able to – before the event for sure!
I wish I lived near you guys so I could walk with you, but no matter what, it’s all for Maddie and all for a very good cause, no matter where we all are! Maddie and God are beaming.
Erin says:
I will be walking on May 8th in Akron OH for my sisters little girl. She was born at 27 weeks. This will be my 3rd yr walking. And it gives me such joy to know I am helping so many babies!!! Good luck with your walk.
Elizabeth says:
My family will be marching for Maddie in Louisville, KY on May 8th. I wish we could march with you for Maddie but we’ll be there in spirit.
eliza says:
Just dropping by to say hi. I love that pic of M so much. I hope you have a great weekend.
Laurie says:
Any Maddie walkers in Austin, TX? I’d love to start a team with you!
Kelley says:
I messed up and linked my blog instead of our MOD page…but I added that and because of my lameness, am now on the list 3(!!) times. *sigh*
I can’t wait to see the t-shirts this year
.-= Kelley´s last blog ..Happy St. Patrick’s Day! =-.
Heather says:
hee hee, no worries! I fixed it!
Kelley says:
Thanks Heather! *hugs*
.-= Kelley´s last blog ..Happy St. Patrick’s Day! =-.
Keri says:
I just wanted to say congratulations on an amazing fundraising effort last year. I hope you make your goal this year. I have walked for the MoD since 1998 when I lost my son, Nicholas to birth defects. The MoD’s research on preventing neural tube defects helped me to bring a healthy daughter in to the world a little over a year later. They are an amazing organization. We will be participating again this year and thinking of Maddie too when we walk.
Jenn says:
Hi Heather!!
Excellent post Heather. I am so sad I don’t have the means to come to LA to walk with you all. I’m so sorry Mike & Heather.
I will look up here to see if we are also doing walk for the March of Dimes. Either way, I WILL find a way to honour and celebrate Maddie and my own 5 babies who were also called back to Heaven way too soon.
Thank you for all of the support and effort you and Mike give to support the March of Dimes. You are a Wonderful advocates and what a excellent way to honour & celebrate Maddie.
Take Care.
Your Friend,
Jenn
Mandy says:
We are walking for our son V. He was born @ 25 weeks and is now 18 months old. I think of Maddie every single day. We look forward to our 2nd year walking. Getting involved with MOD last year is how I came to be a follower of your blog. I have read every single day. Lots of love from Dallas!
Mandy Brown
Angela says:
I wanted to go to a march in my city in 2010 but I’m half way through my own pregnancy and I’m trying to get as much rest as possible. It’s a great cause though and I’ll make a donation for my baby and all our babies.
Kayla N. says:
Yay, March for Maddie! I added my team yesterday but hit enter before I typed the city on accident- the Alpha Sigma for Maddie Spohr team is in Richmond, VA.
Anastasia says:
Heather I just wanted to thank you for motivating me to participate in such a great cause. After my-would-have-been-godson, Jeremiah was still born at 19 weeks, I desperately wanted to do something in his memory and for his parents, but I was not sure what.
I have been reading you blog for few month now. No words could describe how sorry I am… Maddie, Annabel, Mike and you are always in my thought. I organized a group in NJ to walk in honor and memory of Jeremiah and Maddie.
Thank you!
~Anastasia
Leslie A says:
Your spirit and lovely daughter, Maddie, has also inspired me to create a team in the Champaign/Urbana, Illinois walk. Not sure if anyone will join my team, but I’ll give it a good shot.
Leigh says:
Hi Leslie,
A friend and I would like to join your team but would like to talk to you first. We’re just north of C-U in Paxton. Can you email me at kyleandleigh(at) gmail dot com? We’re both super excited and would LOVE to help out!
Leigh
Kim says:
Hi Heather, I am interested in Marching for Maddie with a team in Pittsburgh, but the link above to the group for Pittsburgh doesn’t seem to be working for me. Do you know how else I can contact them to join in?
Thanks!
Abby says:
Hi Heather! I wish I could come to LA and march with you guys. Instead I made a donation to your team and ordered a shirt so that I can let people in Ontario know about Maddie.
Good luck!
~Abby
Chantel says:
I’m honored to be Marching for Maddie in Washington, DC on April 25th. I’d love for anyone in the DC/MD/VA area to join my team.
http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/t1389506
alimartell says:
Atlanta is Marching for Maddie!
xoxo
.-= alimartell´s last blog ..Way Better Than Spring Training. Mostly Because There Were Marshmallows. =-.
Bridget says:
The St. Louis Team’s link (#11) appears to be broken. I think it should be:
http://www.marchforbabies.org/s_team_page.asp?seid=1368444
Katrina says:
I’m so bummed — the date is the same date we have to be out of town for our daugther’s soccer tournament. I really, really wanted to join you in the LA walk! I will be making a donation, though. And hopefully I can join you for the next one.
.-= Katrina´s last blog ..Computer Games =-.
Toni Jones says:
We’re walking for Maddie here in Newport Beach I hope to make the the LA walk the next day but seeing that I’m 19 weeks prego it might be a little to much. I will try!
.-= Toni Jones´s last blog ..Beach Time! =-.
SnoozanK says:
I don’t have a blog or a team or a team in my neighborhood but I’d like to make a donation in Maddie’s honor. I’ve been reading your blog for 10 months or so and I hesitated to comment because I had new baby and you had just lost Maddie. But now I feel I can say this without sounding awkward: You have handled the last year with grace, dignity, love and this is an amazing tribute to your older daughter. You are one class act. If I make it out to LA again anytime soon I sure would be honored to meet you. xxoo Susan
Allison says:
I’m walking in Nashville for Maddie. I can’t wait to go march in her honor! I’m trying to recruit as many of my Mom friends as I can!! I think I’ve almost got my husband convinced to walk too! YAY!
Allison
.-= Allison´s last blog ..3.09.10 =-.
Teresa says:
I just created a March for Maddie team in Madison, WI. I’d love for you to join my team. Click this link: http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/t1414273
Lotus / Sarcastic Mom says:
Just created an Austin, TX team for Maddie.
About to buy our t-shirts.
XOXO
.-= Lotus / Sarcastic Mom´s last blog ..chocolate happiness =-.