Veronica Boren practically glows as she talks about her work with the March of Dimes.

&uot;The March of Dimes has a special place in my heart because I had two premature babies that benefited from March of Dimes advances,&uot; Boren said.

That’s why Boren is serving as the co-chairman for this year’s fifth annual March of Dimes River Cities Walk America 2001. She has been involved with local the event since its beginning in 1997.

Jennifer Brixey is co-chairman for the march. &uot;It’s a cause that does not receive as much recognition in this area,&uot; she said.

With advancements such as the polio vaccine and the discovery that folic acid prevents certain birth defects, all babies benefit from March of Dimes research, Brixey said.

&uot;Every family has children more often than not, and every child is going to be affected by something the March of Dimes has developed for them,&uot; she said.

In Boren’s case that development was a drug called surfactant.

&uot;It’s like a lubricant that keeps your lungs from sticking together when they’re deflated,&uot; Boren said.

When her son Matthew was born seven weeks premature, his lungs needed that drug for him to survive.

&uot;Surfactant therapy saved his life,&uot; Boren said. &uot;He was one of the first babies in Louisiana to receive the drug.&uot;

Her second child, Brittany, had to spend 11 days in the neo-natal ICU at Natchez Regional Medical Center because she was born five weeks premature.

That was possible because the March of Dimes provided money to establish neo-natal ICU’s in rural hospitals, Boren said.

&uot;So she was able to be born in Natchez rather than Alexandria,&uot; Boren said.

Today Boren’s children, now 12 and 3 are both healthy.

&uot;If you could see my children you would know why I’m a fan of the March of Dimes,&uot; Boren said.

The March of Dimes River Cities Walk America will take place on Oct. 27 in downtown Vidalia. It raised more than $15,000 last year and has set a goal of $18,000 this year. Anyone interested in participated in this year’s event or forming a team can contact Brixey at 336-7173 or Boren at 318-757-6551 ext. 389.