March for Babies
North Alabama
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Big Spring Park
200 Church St., Huntsville, AL 35801
Date: Saturday, May 02, 2026 10:00 AM
200 Church St., Huntsville, AL 35801
Date: Saturday, May 02, 2026 10:00 AM
By participating in this March of Dimes event, you assume all risks related to attendance and acknowledge and consent to the event terms, including but not limited to March of Dimes' liability waiver and health and safety guidelines, as set forth in detail here.
2026 Ambassadors
Sander and Sage
Sander and Sage
My name is Caitlin Gum, and my twins got a chance. But my family’s story with prematurity didn’t start with my twins. It started a generation earlier.
My oldest sister was born premature at 32 weeks, and my parents were told something no parent should ever have to hear… that she would need to survive the night before they would even transport her to a NICU. That was 1975. Limited access. Limited resources. And so much uncertainty.
Fast forward to three months ago, and I experienced something very different.
Our twins were born at 34 weeks, weighing just 4 pounds 1 ounce and 5 pounds 4 ounces. In an instant, they were surrounded by a team of trained medical professionals and taken to the NICU. What followed were two weeks that felt like forever… watching monitors, holding onto hope, and celebrating every small win. You celebrate things most people take for granted… things I took for granted with my first child…a steady heartbeat, a full feeding, or simply breathing on their own. Even the moment you get to take your baby home.
But what I didn’t fully understand in those moments is that the care my twins received didn’t just happen. It really hit me as I sat in the NICU every day, watching the nurses and doctors care not just for my babies, but for so many others… just how far preemie care has come. The monitoring, the treatments, the systems in place… that progress didn’t happen overnight. It exists because of decades of research, advocacy, and investment from organizations like March of Dimes. Because of that work, babies today are assessed immediately, screened early, and cared for using practices that continue to improve outcomes year after year. And what I’m especially grateful for is that this level of care is reaching communities like mine. In a place like Cullman, access to strong community healthcare and NICU support means families aren’t separated. It means they don’t have to travel hours away during the most critical moments of their lives. That matters. It changes outcomes. It changes stories.
Today, my twins are three months old, healthy, growing, and thriving. And when I look at their story alongside my sister’s, it’s a powerful reminder of progress and of responsibility. Because while we’ve come a long way, there is still more to do. Prematurity is still a leading challenge, and continued research and support are what will drive the next breakthroughs. Supporting March of Dimes means more babies get a chance. More families get access to care, no matter where they live. And more parents get to bring their children home.
Thank you to our local sponsors