Amanda and Brendon Helmke

It’s time for March for Babies again! This year marks our tenth year of fundraising for March for babies! Ten times we have shared Claire’s story and walked to remember and honor all babies born too soon. I can’t believe it’s been eleven years since Claire was born. I knew nothing about prematurity before that sunny spring day in 2013 when our second daughter was born 14 weeks premature. At 26 weeks gestation, Claire weighed just 1 lb. 14 oz and was 11 inches long. She spent 89 days in the NICU at Tacoma General Hospital before she got to come home. She was on oxygen support and a feeding tube for the first four months of her life, even after coming home. She overcame many obstacles as she grew, going to various therapies for many years. Today, Claire is a happy and healthy eleven year old. You’d never know how much she struggled for the first few years of her life. We walk for March for Babies every year to celebrate Claire’s life and to remember the babies born premature that never made it home. Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. I'm walking in March for Babies because I want to do something about this. And I need your help. Please support my walk, just click the 'donate now' button on this page. Thank you for helping me give all babies a healthy start!