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Indiana Guard Soldiers march for babies

Courtesy Photo | Indiana Army National Guard Spc. Bruce Rundberg of Hobart joins civilians as a member...... read more read more

HIGHLAND, UNITED STATES

05.13.2009

Courtesy Story

Indiana National Guard Headquarters

HIGHLAND, Ind. - In a gesture of good will to the community, members of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 151st Infantry Regiment in Hammond, joined neighbors and friends in the March for Babies walk-a-thon for the March of Dimes.

Nicknamed the Shadow Warriors, Company A Soldiers raised $1,225 in donations to the March of Dimes to assist the needs of moms and their babies born prematurely across the nation. The Soldiers reveal the heart of the Army National Guard through the spirit of a helping hand.

"My sister was one month premature when she was born and still suffers from asthma," said Pfc. Jonathan Snyder, Highland, who originally conceived of the plan to include his unit in the fundraiser before they deployed to Afghanistan this summer. "She's 17 now, but anytime I see my sister grab her inhaler or have to be taken to the hospital for a breathing treatment, it hits home."

Snyder and fellow unit Soldiers dressed in full uniform and field equipment, including 40-pound rucksacks with the unit guidon for the 9-mile course as a reminder of the pain premature babies and their families endure.

Involving themselves in local support activities is something for Company A Soldiers like to do.

"An opportunity like the March for Babies is good because it's something we like to do. It's our chance to involve ourselves in the community," said Snyder, who saw the benefits of giving others more exposure to the National Guard and others who aren't used to seeing members of the military on a personal level.

"Plus, we get some good [physical training]," he said.

"It's a good chance to get out in the community," said Spc. David Ragnone, Portage, Ind., whose daughter was born six weeks premature but is healthy now. "That's what got me in it."

Completing the 9-mile course was just the finishing touch on hours of personal effort for the Shadow Warriors as they contacted friends, family and local businesses to raise funds for this cause.

"I got started gaining support from people in the company," said Snyder. "I was allowed to talk to the whole company and their families during a dinner and raised around $300 worth that day."

Most of the donations came from local businesses and people contacted by the Shadow Warriors team. As word got out about their efforts, the Northwest Indiana Times wrote an article about them.

"I even got one $100 donation just from that article," said Snyder who added that one lady in Kentucky donated $50 to the team website. "I didn't even know who she was but I told her 'Thank You.'"

Snyder and the Shadow Warriors of Company A, Staff Sgt. Alan Thomas of Gary, Ind., Cpl. Tim Thomas of Highland, Spc. Bruce Rundberg of Hobart, Ind., and Spc. David Ragnone of Portage, Ind., braved a rain shower, gaining the respect of hundreds of participants in the fight against complications of premature birth.

The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. Donations raised by the March for Babies helps the March of Dimes champion the needs of moms and babies in the community and across the nation. The money raised will help:
- support all-important research offering preventions and solutions for babies born too soon or with birth defects;
- educate women on things they can do to increase their chances of having a healthy baby;
- provide comfort and information to families with a newborn in intensive care;
- push for newborn screening and health insurance for all pregnant women and children.

The March of Dimes also helps with research into stress and other factors that may trigger preterm labor, programs to educate pregnant women to recognize the warning signs of preterm labor and tools to help health care providers find better ways to detect women who may be at risk for preterm labor.