March for Maddie - UPDATED

 

UPDATE: Services for Madeline will be held on Tuesday, April 14 at 2:30 PM at Old North Church, Forest Lawn, in Hollywood Hills. Please wear purple in honor of Madeline.

I have never seen such generosity amongst (in many cases) total strangers before. In the last couple of days, the willingness of people to give, to donate, to help, to pass on information has been endless and breathtaking. And it's all been for Maddie and of course Heather and Mike, her parents.

Heather, Mike and Maddie had been fundraising and planning on walking in the April 25 March for Babies walk in Los Angeles at Exposition Park for March of Dimes. As a show of support and as a way of honoring Maddie's memory, those of us in the Southern California area are now planning to walk as part of the fast growing March for Maddie Team.

If you will be in the Los Angeles area on Saturday, April 25th and would like to join us, please email me for details. We would love to have as many locals walking in her honor. I am helping organize our L.A. group and will gladly include you on the emails about when and where we will be meeting that morning. Click the "email me" link below the March of Dimes widget in the left column.

If you're not in L.A., there are March of Dimes Maddie Teams everywhere across the U.S. now and you can find one close to you by checking this list. If there isn't a team for Maddie in your area and you would like to start one, you can find instructions on how to set-up your own March for Maddie team here.

No matter where you choose to walk (or if you can't walk, and just want to support the Spohr family) you can purchase March for Maddie t-shirts here. All proceeds will go to the Spohr family.

You will notice that the t-shirts are purple. The Spohr's would like everyone to wear purple in Maddie's memory for the March of Dimes walks as well as at her services. No matter where you are, please wear purple on Tuesday. Any photos you have of groups of you guys wearing purple as a tribute to Maddie or photos you have of her, please upload them here to this Flickr account.

For those who have asked how to change the background on their blog or Twitter profile to purple in honor of Maddie, instructions are here.

Many people who want to help but feel helpless because they're not in the L.A. area are asking what they can do... You can find out more about Operation Purple Balloon in Memory of Maddie here.

In addition, you can click on the March of Dimes widget in the left column to help my fundraising efforts if you'd like. All donations go directly to March of Dimes in Maddie's name. You can also donate directly on her page here.

For those of you who have donated (either to March of Dimes or burial costs) already, thank you. The fundraising efforts have exceeded everyone's expectations and will hopefully save the lives of many babies.

If you're looking for where to send items, Meghan of A Mom Two Boys (who is the organizer behind almost everything you see happening for Maddie) has set up a P.O. Box which can also accepts packages because it's at a UPS Store.

Updated: If you're in the L.A. area and would like to help by bringing food to the Spohr family, Stefanie of Baby on Bored has been kind enough to organize this. You can email her at babyonbored(at)gmail(dot)com to help.

The most amazing mosaic tribute to Maddie has been posted here and I recommend taking a look because it will make you gasp. Click on the photo to zoom in on the thousands of Maddie photographs.

Maddie's story is in the Ventura County Star here and I've done a small piece on her at 805moms here. 

Comments

[Sarcastic Mom]

My heart bursts with both pain and love today. For the loss and for the beauty I've seen rolling on and on all day long. What an emotional ride.

Thanks for putting this together and working throughout the day. You're a pretty dandy gal.

[Magda]

Would you please include a link to flickr group I created. I want a place for to upload pictures of themselves wearing purple or walking for Maddie. It would be another great way for us to show our love to the Sphors!

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1042421@N24/

[UD]

@Magda Definitely.

[Daddy Dan]

Thanks for all you're doing. I'm so touched by the efforts of so many great people.

[threeundertwo]

I just had some surgery so I can't walk myself, but I am fiercely proud of all the incredible women who are deciding to do this today. Maddie's death is painfully sad, but I believe many children will benefit from this legacy that is being created before our eyes.

[NibbletsMommy]

Just wanted to let you know New Orleans is putting on our walking shoes for Maddie

Steel Magnolias March for Maddie
http://www.marchforbabies.org/teams/706835

[Maternal Mirth]

I cannot tell you how this has changed me. I was blessed enough to have met Maddie and held her in my arms. Heather and Mike have been in my thoughts and prayers constantly in the last two days. My heart goes out to them

I will be there on 4/25 in honor or Maddie.

[Karen (Submommy)]

I wish so very much I lived nearby. I will wear purple for Maddie on Tuesday. My heart is heavy. :(

[Suebob]

Ah hell no I can't watch that video. My heart would fall on the floor in pieces.

[Apryl's Antics]

That mosaic is beautiful. The video did make me cry, twice.

There's nothing in the world that can replace a child, but the Spohrs are blessed to have such amazing friends--and strangers.

I'll be wearing purple on Tuesday and so will my kids.

[FireMom]

Thank you kindly for the link round up. We will now be participating in the balloon release as well as turning our blog and twitter purple on Tuesday.

[Nichol]

I wish I could attend. I have watched this video many time and have cried everytime. My family and I will honor Maddie and wear purple on the 14th. Thanks for putting this together!

[Lisa]

wow... have been reading a blog about how the "power of small" is what makes the difference. I think this is just about the best example I've ever seen. Good luck on the march - I'm sure the Spohrs will be amazed and thrilled by all the individuals coming together in Maddie's name.

Lisa

[x]

You're a good woman, UD.