Photo By Lt. Col. Michelle Lunato | Houston native Eleanor Talib, a driver with Flour, helps collect donations from...... read more read more
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - Every year, more than 21 million babies worldwide are born prematurely or with a serious birth defect. And more than four million of those children will die before their fifth birthday.
For some deployed service members, these numbers are unacceptable, and instead of using their free time in Afghanistan to relax, they are finding a way to help reduce those statistics from overseas.
The rate of premature infants is not just a deplorable number; it is personal, said Charlotte, N.C., resident Army Capt. Roderick A. Vinson, project manager for the future operations section of the Joint NetOps Control Center, which is commanded by the 359th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade. “I have twin boys who were born premature and spent five to six weeks in the hospital.” At birth, his boys weighed only 2.9 and 3.1 pounds. “It was a very stressful time for my wife while I was deployed,” said Vinson.
The twin boys, who are now 4-year-olds, are doing fine and in-the-clear, he said. “Now, you would never know they were premature. They are little monsters,” Vinson explained with a laugh.
With his family safely growing, Vinson decided it was time to give thanks to the organization that provided such a priceless gift. “[My boys] benefited from the advances in technology in treating premature babies, thanks to the effort of The March of Dimes.”
Vinson’s plan to give back to the organization included coordinating an event to raise awareness and funds for March of Dimes/March for Babies at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. The March 4 event was held at the Green Bean Coffee Shop and included music, games, and information about the March of Dimes’ efforts. Deployed servicemembers informed coffee patrons, while civilian contractors collected donations.
Though the Bagram March of Dimes’ event varied from some the events in the states, it had the same goal, and the participants reflected the multi-national effort at Bagram. Everyone from French soldiers to U.S. service members to Polish special forces were out in support. The deployed environment doesn’t seem to hamper people’s desire to support a cause, and events like this, also give people a tie back to life at home, said a base Morale, Welfare and Recreation employee.
Vinson’s wife, Keshia, who has participated in prior March of Dimes’ events in the states, said it is really extraordinary for the families and soldiers to be able to combine efforts, even with thousands of miles between them. “Even while they are deployed, called to answer one of the toughest jobs in America, they are finding a way to support a great organization that supports our communities.”
To make this happen, Vinson recruited unit comrades and Greek “brothers and sisters,” both in and outside of Afghanistan, to help out. His first step was to reach out to Alpha Kappa Alpha sister, LaRonda Scott, for information and support. Scott, who is the Eastern Carolina Division director for the March of Dimes, said her team has such heartfelt thanks to the deployed troops who want to lend a hand. “We are absolutely thrilled and honored that the servicemembers want to be involved in the March for Babies.”
However, working with people abroad is not a new idea to the March of Dimes, said Scott. “Since 1998, we have partnered with local organizations in 33 developing countries on four continents to improve the health and care of babies through professional education, public awareness and strengthening parent organizations.”
For Keshia, the organization’s mission reflects her own motivation to stay regularly involved. “Participating in this event allows me to share my personal experience and bring awareness that for the average woman, many deliver full-term normal healthy babies, but everyone is not so fortunate.”
The organization sponsors research focused on better understanding, and eventually, preventing, birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality, said Kamin Brennan, March for Babies director. “The March of Dimes is addressing the above problems from all angles: from funding life-saving research to getting laws signed that will improve health care for women and babies. We educate to empower moms-to-be, and are there to support families affected by premature birth.”
After having seen these efforts first hand, Vinson said he can’t imagine not supporting this cause, regardless of where he is. “I do not believe people fully appreciate how special children are, and the struggles people have to not only have them but to keep them healthy. March of Dimes helps to provide this special gift to parents.”
Protecting those treasured gifts is our way of providing community service, said fellow supporter and Greek brother, S. Howard Hunt, network operations senior configuration manager at the JNCC, 359th TTSB. And when you’re deployed, the base is your community, one that you must still support, he said. “This is our community, and we need to support it in every way possible.”
For soldiers who are already fighting the war on terrorism, aiding in the battle to help future generations just makes sense, said Army Spc. Courtesia Wilson, supply specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 359th TTSB. “Although we are making sacrifices by risking our lives to make a difference for our country, it all ties in with taking a moment to raise money so that we can make a difference in babies' lives forever as well.”
For more information on the March of Dimes, go to www.marchofdimes.com. To donate to a United Effort for Babies, go to http://www.marchforbabies.org/ravinson Vinson and his wife plan on participating in the April 30 March of Dimes event in Charlotte, N.C., to continue to raise funds for March of Dimes/March for Babies. To find a March of Dimes event near you, go to www.marchforbabies.org.
| Date Taken: | 03.04.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.07.2011 03:41 |
| Story ID: | 66609 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 338 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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