To Amber Myers, the importance of the March of Dimes is simple.

“They save our babies,” she said.

Amber said children like her sons, Cale and Garrett, wouldn’t be alive today without the research and work done through the March of Dimes Foundation.

Amber, her husband Chad, and their twin 2-year-old boys were the ambassador family for the Austin/Albert Lea March for Babies Walk, which was held Saturday morning at Torge’s in Austin.

The 6-mile walk brought in $59,400, topping last year’s total of about $48,000, according to Chair Peggy Young.

“We’re excited about that,” she said of this year’s total.

The March of Dimes’ key goal is to raise money and awareness to promote healthy pregnancies and babies.

“Really the goal of the March of Dimes is to make sure that every baby that’s born is born healthy,” Young said.

A big part of that is educating and teaching expecting mothers.

“They really are fighting a battle against prematurity and birth defects and, of course, infant mortality,” Young said.

The Myers are no strangers to the effects of early births.

Cale and Garrett were born Aug. 9, 2009, at 25 weeks — about 15 weeks early. Both boys weighed a little more than 2 pounds at birth and faced many health issues.

“They both had multiple surgeries,” Amber said. “It was very serious and they almost died many times. It was very scary and horrible, but we made it. Yay, March of Dimes.”

Amber said the day brought back somber memories of watching her sons almost die, but it also brought back the happy memories of when she and Chad finally brought their boys home.

“They’re true miracles,” Amber said.

Amber said it was rewarding to see them healthy and acting as the ambassador family.

“We worked really hard to raise money for a cause we really believe in,” she said.

Along with being the ambassador family, Amber was one of the top three earners and Myers’ Miracles was the top earning team.

“It’s not even a joke, it’s real that if the March of Dimes didn’t do what they do, my children and many people’s children would not be here today,” Amber said.

 

Top walkers

•Martha Vrieze

Morrison

•Randy Kramer

•Amber Myers

•Robyn Byers

•Chantell Piepho

 

Top Team

•Myers’ Miracles

•Thrivent Financial

•Davis-Thoen-Kramer and Associates

•D.J. Piepho

•Farmer’s Insurance