Prompt supports March for Babies
By Sue Ellen Ross Post-Tribune correspondent February 12, 2013 1:32PM
Michelle Cherry with son Zachary, of Portage, talks about how the March of Dimes has helped save the lives of premature babies during the March for Babies campaign kickoff held at Prompt Ambulance in Highland, Ind. | Charles Mitchell~For Sun-Times Media
Get involved
The March of Dimes is offering three opportunities to participate in the 2013 March for Babies in Northwest Indiana.
LaPorte County: April 27, location to be announced
Porter County: April 28, Old Fairgrounds Park, Valparaiso
Lake County: May 5, Highland High School
For more information:
www.marchforbabies.org
Article Extras
Updated: March 14, 2013 6:18AM
The March of Dimes kicked off organizing and fundraising for the summer March for Babies walk at a recent event at Prompt Ambulance Service in Highland.
The company put the March of Dimes’ logo on a new purple-and-white ambulance to help market the event.
“We have always been supportive of the March of Dimes and their mission,” said Gary Miller, owner of the ambulance service, as he greeted visitors at the Highland headquarters. “This (ambulance) is one way we can show that support.”
The March of Dimes, celebrating 75 years, raises money to support prenatal wellness programs, research grants, neonatal intensive care units, family support programs and advocacy for healthy babies.
During the recent evening, visitors inspected the new ambulance and also observed the Prompt communications room, which houses four dispatchers, five call-takers and a supervisor.
St. John friends Kristy Schultz and Leann Durocher were at the event to register their team for the March for Babies. Both work at the Teachers Credit Union in St. John and have participated in previous years.
“We love babies and want to help in whatever way we can,” said Schultz, who has been the mother of a premature baby. “This walk is very important for many reasons, and it does brings awareness to the March of Dimes.”
2013 March of Dimes ambassador Michelle Cherry has been on both sides of the bassinet, so to speak.
She is a manager of the neonatal intensive care unit at Community Hospital and also the mother of a premature baby.
“My son, who is fine today, was born 10 weeks early and I was very nervous when I brought him home,” she told the audience. “The March of Dimes is very special to me. Their research and information has been tremendous.”
Now 5 years old, her son Zack was at her side as she added, “It’s an awesome gesture from Prompt to put the March of Dimes on their ambulance, promoting awareness of this great organization.”
