Published: September 16, 2009 10:42 pm      

Busy Saturday for March of Dimes

Are you up for a challenge?

How about getting a hair cut, taking a run in stiletto heels, and then trading in your heels for tennis shoes and walking three miles this Saturday all to support the end of a six-week long campaign for the March of Dimes.

“The March for Babies campaign donates money to provide care for babies born too early or too sick, education for families, and research funds for scientists working to solve the problems of premature birth, birth defects and infant mortality,” said division director Stephanie Soucek.

The first Woodward March for Babies ‘Hair-A-Thon’ will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Stylists from A Cut Above, A Wild Hair and Custom Cuts salons will donate money earned from walk-in and scheduled appointments to help the March of Dimes.

“I am so grateful to the stylists that have been very generous and offered to give their support in any way they could,” said Hair-A-Thon organizer Sonya Donley.

To complete your new look, slip on a pair of stilletto high heels and head downtown to Westfest for the ‘Stilletto Sprint’ that begins at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Women and men are invited to participate in the 50-yard dash while wearing high heels that are three inches high or higher. There is also a children’s boot race for ages five-years-old and up.

For the final leg of the challenge head to the Woodward County Fairgrounds for the annual WalkAmerica.

“Activities and entertainment will begin at 5 p.m., including games for kids and contest for the best T-shirt design. At 6 p.m. walkers will go out outside for the three mile March for Babies. After the walk participants will gather back at the fairgrounds for more activities and an awards ceremony,” Soucek said.

This year's honorary chairs for WalkAmerica are Senator Bryce Marlatt and his wife Tatum. Their nephew, 3-year-old Teagan Marlatt is this years Ambassador for the walk. Teagan is the son of Aaron and Selena Marlatt of Sharon.

“Teagan was born at 27 weeks gestation. He weighed two pounds, eight ounces and was 14 inches long,” Selena Marlatt said.

After a spending 56 days at Mercy Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Oklahoma City, Teagan was brought home.

“Through occupational therapy Teagan was able to learn to sit-up and walk. Basic things that babies know, he had to be taught. Speech therapy has helped him learn to talk and now he won’t quit,” Marlatt said.

She said that today “Teagan is healthy and a very active and rambunctious kid that never sits still.”

“March of Dimes and the stuff they know through their research and trials and errors is the reason Teagan is here today. I didn’t want any mother to have to go through what I did and that’s why I wanted to help March of Dimes,” Marlatt said.