Thousands march to ensure infant health

Under a bright sunny sky, moms rocked kids in their arms Sunday morning on the Qwest Field turf.

· Gallery: See more photos from the event

Infants relaxed in what looked like a sea of strollers. Loudspeakers blasted the song, "We Are Family."

Thousands of Seattle-area parents, adults and youths spent the morning participating in the "March for Babies," the March of Dimes-sponsored event that raises money and awareness for infant health.

"Who's going to turn down an offer to help babies?" asked Ed Rogel, state chairman for the march and a Weyerhaeuser executive. "The focus is to eliminate premature birth."

The March of Dimes also works to prevent birth defects and infant mortality.

Sunday's walk in Seattle and others in the state were expected to raise about $2.3 million, organizers said. The money, Rogel said, would be used for education programs and technology in hospitals.

In Seattle, 7,000 to 10,000 people walked for three miles, holding children and balloons, on the Alaskan Way Viaduct before returning to Qwest Field.

Before the walk, Issaquah mom Dana Gardner, 40, explained how her son, William, was born prematurely in 2004.

At first, doctors were concerned that he was going to arrive so early that he might have weighed 1 pound 6 ounces.

"He might not have made it," she said.

But doctors in Kirkland helped him stay in Gardner's womb for two more months. When he was born, he weighed about 4 pounds, she said.

Last month, the boy celebrated his fourth birthday. And on Sunday, his father held him in his arms.

Gardner and her family raised about $4,000 for the event.

Some parents posted personal stories about their children on a tent on the field. It had the words "Love, Hope, Remembrance."

One family talked about losing their baby son after he lived for only two weeks in December 2006. Before the boy was born, doctors detected a heart defect.

His body "was so little, but in that little body was so much strength and courage," his parents wrote.

As people streamed out of Qwest Field, Seattle resident Lester Yuh, 48, held a sign to honor his niece. In March, she was born prematurely at 26 weeks. She could not attend the Sunday walk because she remains in a hospital intensive care unit.

"We want to bring some attention to this," he said. "As a family, you get enlightened to this."

MORE INFORMATION

Visit marchforbabies.org and marchofdimes.com.