Approximately 519 babies are born each week in Nebraska. Around 11.5 of them are born premature.
"My daughter, her granddaughter, was born at 24 weeks, and just weighed one pound, two ounces, and a year later my son, her grandson, Griffen was born at 27 weeks, just over two pounds," Abby Saunders said.
Saunders and her family have been involved with March of Dimes for the last eight years. She has also become involved with the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at a hospital in Omaha.
"Having someone to talk to that's been through it that can offer support, and they're truly empathetic, and it's very powerful," Saunders said.
March of Dimes has spread through 900 communities across the country, and has hosted the March for Babies in Kearney for four years.
"I'm hoping to get a couple hundred people, last year we were close to 200, so hopefully we can get more than that this year," Community Director Megan Dudzinski said.
Families that have graduated from the NICU Center, as well as volunteers join together for the walk around Yanney Park. For Abby and Pam Saunders, there is a common favorite regarding this event.
"Seeing the kids growing and developing and being just awesome all around," Pam Saunders said.
"To celebrate how well they're doing and to reflect back to how they started and just, it's very eye opening," Abby Saunders said.
Participants are expected to raise more than $17,000 that will go toward prematurity and birth defect research and treatment.
