If you know me or have had a discussion with me at all in the past about the fundraising groups at races/marathons and their objectives versus the reality of what they do, you’ll know that I normally don’t support them. The fact that if I raise the $2000 required by them, they will pay my airfare to a race, put me up in a hotel for two days, pay for my race entry fee, and include a nice dinner and a qualified trainer through the process, means that out of that amount, maybe only 25% (if that) of the funds I raise would actually go to the group I’m trying to help.

There are two exceptions to this for me.

1) Fisher House.

http://www.fisherhouse.org/

Have you heard of the Ronald McDonald houses? Fisher House is the same thing, but for military families. Their goal is “Providing a “home away from home” for military families to be close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury.”

They were a lifesaver for us in all ways possible immediately following my C-Section. We remained there for two weeks, during which time they provided toys and even some meals (they had food on hand for breakfast and lunch, and dinners would be dropped off by volunteers) while we were battling the NICU and recovering. There is no way that I could have driven an hour each way from our house in Keyport, WA, to be available to nurse my babies when they were able or spend the amount of time that I did.

I will never be able to repay them for our FREE stay, but I hope to be able to pay it forward to other families in the future. I’ll eventually run my first marathon with their team shirt on and hopefully help the fundraising effort for other families to be able to continue using this amazing resource for many years to come.

2) March of Dimes

http://www.marchforbabies.org/hunt2005

The second organization that is near and dear to my heart is the March of Dimes. While we didn’t have to use any of the resources that they provide, thanks largely to the Fisher House, Tricare, and an amazing and supportive community and family, many families do. Many don’t have the resources we do. Many don’t have healthcare that paid for 100% of the $1 mill+ hospital bill. Many don’t have the knowledge base to understand what is going on, and aren’t prepared for a NICU stay.

In a lot of ways, we were lucky to have triplets and then go to the NICU. We were prepared. We knew from day one that a NICU stay of some length was most likely going to happen, and we were ready for it. When I delivered, there wasn’t a shock or worry as they were wheeled away because I knew it was coming. Most NICU families aren’t so lucky. Many have a traumatic birth, many have complications that led to that happening, and sometimes the child is whisked away by ambulance or chopper to a completely different hospital while the mother is left in recovery unable to see them for hours or even days.

Steven and I are going to be running in March for Babies and raising money because we care about healthy babies. We care about the families going through the process. We hope that by even just raising a small amount of money, some families burdens will be lessened, even if just by a little.

Your gift supports March of Dimes research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. And it’s used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in newborn intensive care.

Thank you for your support!

To make a donation, visit my personal Web page at
http://www.marchforbabies.org/hunt2005

If you would like to learn more about March for Babies,
visit the Web site at marchforbabies.org.

Would you like to see what March for Babies is and why I’m walking?
Click here to see the video.