We Participated In The March For Babies In Atlanta, Georgia With Kmart #TeamKmart #MC #sponsored

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Kmart. I received product samples and a travel stipend to attend an event, and I received a promotional item to thank me for participating and a donation was made on my behalf to March of Dimes.

 



On Saturday, April 26th, the boys and I headed to Atlanta for our local March for Babies event! The March of Dimes works tirelessly to end premature birth, birth defects and infant mortality. Our son, Liam, is one of half a million babies born too soon each year. He was born 5 weeks early and his lungs were not fully developed, so the doctors and nurses worked endlessly to get him healthy and ready to go home. While Liam was still in the ICU, we learned all about March of Dimes and how much they do for families, women and babies. Below is a photo of Liam the day he was born. This is one of the reasons March of Dimes and the March for Babies exists. The March for Babies is a very special and important event and fundraiser that helps support community programs teaching moms about proper pregnancy health and how to have healthy, full-term pregnancies. It also funds research to find answers to premature birth and other issues that threaten our babies. Since 1970, $2.3 billion has been raised to benefit babies and, this year, 3 million people will join in on the March for Babies!

Liam as a preemie in the ICU

We were so excited to attend the March for Babies because of all they do for premature babies like Liam. He was in the hospital for 2 weeks and my husband and I even attended a healthcare class teaching us about caring for preemies, which was supported by March of Dimes! Liam has experienced many health issues over the four years of his life. Some may have caused the premature delivery, including his diagnosis of Neurofibromatosis. Others may have occurred as a result of being a preemie, such as very sensitive skin, allergies and late development. For these reasons, March of Dimes is especially close to our hearts and we want to participate, raise awareness and support them in any way possible. 

Introduction of teams, including #TeamKmart

So, the boys and I arrived at the March for Babies in Atlanta at the World Congress Center just in time for all of the fun. The day was perfect for the event, with the sun shining and warm weather. As a huge fan of Kmart, where I remember shopping as a child with my grandma and mom, I couldn't wait to join their team during the event and that is exactly what we did. We found the Team Kmart tent as soon as we arrived at the event. Did you know that Kmart has worked with March of Dimes for four decades and is their number one corporate sponsor? They have raised a whopping $114 million so far, which is just amazing! In addition, Kmart is rewarding their Shop Your Way Members who donate in-store with a 5% back on their next in-store purchase! While there, you can also purchase a special collectible puppy figurine for only $5 and $1 from each purchase goes to the March of Dimes. Teams were being announced on-stage and when Kmart was mentioned, the crowd went wild. There were many teams present, but Kmart's dedication to the cause was quite obvious and many, many of their employees came out for the day.

Next there was a t-shirt contest to see which team had the best t-shirts! The teams were so excited and animated that this was a really fun part of the March for Babies. We were all clapping and cheering as teams showed off their shirts and danced across the stage. Then, we stopped for a quick snack at the VIP tent before looking at the rest of the other tents. When walking around, I immediately noticed how many people dedicated their time as volunteers. They all had smiles on their faces and were quick to help people with any questions they had. Here's a group of great ladies that took some time to talk with me:

Somewhere along the way, we were told to visit the Kids Zone and the boys were all for it! The boys loved the Kids Zone because there was something for all ages. For smaller kids, there was a play area with cars, basketball goals and other assorted toys. The boys also had to jump into the bounce house for a few minutes. The next booth we found was for the Atlanta Braves where the boys both got foam tomahawks. We are huge Braves fans, so the boys were really excited to see them. In addition, there were robot cars and, lastly, clowns painting faces and making balloon animals! The Kids Zone was a great place for the kids to get out some energy and have fun, too.

Right as we were finishing up in the Kids Zone, the march was gearing up, so we headed over to the starting line with everyone else. There was a huge line of all the teams and supporters, so we had to wait our turn to cross the line and get started. During this time, I shot a little video showing the area and everyone participating in the event.


As we crossed the line, the excitement was electric and everyone was so pumped to get going. We walked and we walked.... I believe it was just over 3 miles in all! It was such a wonderful experience, being with so many others passionate about the march. By the time we made our way to the finish line, we were tired, but clapping because it felt like such an accomplishment. Teams raised so much money for March of Dimes and the day was so much fun.  You bet we will be back next year!

Have you ever participated in the March for Babies? If so, tell us about it. If not, check out the Kmart March of Dimes website for more info on local events. Believe me, you will have a great time participating and it is all for such a wonderful cause. Thanks to everyone who made the day so special and who raised so much money for March for Babies. We'll see you next year!

After the march with my boys!

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Kmart. I received product samples and a travel stipend to attend an event, and I received a promotional item to thank me for participating and a donation was made on my behalf to March of Dimes.