Ella's Team raises $3,000 for March of Dimes fundraiser
BY LELAND ACKER

Two-year old Ella Hoffman was the ambassador baby for the East Texas area during the March of Dimes' Walk America event. Ella was born 15 months premature on May 9, 2005. Ella's team raised more than $3,000 to go toward preventing premature births.

The March of Dimes' Walk America event took place on April 21 at Nichols Green park in Jacksonville. The ambassador baby for the East Texas area was Ella Hoffman of Rusk.

Ella, who turned two years old on May 9, was born 15 weeks prematurely and weighed only 1 pound and 12 ounces, said Team Ella member Tammy Greene. Ella is the daughter of Jason and Melonie Hoffman and the granddaughter of Sheriff James Campbell.

"She is a beautiful baby girl who is doing well today," Mrs. Greene said.

Ella spent 15 weeks in neonatal intensive care. Mrs. Greene said Ella's team had 43 walkers at the event who came together for a second year to make the three mile walk.

"Tears filled many eyes," Mrs. Greene said. "It was an emotional walk for Ella's team."

Ella's team raised more than $3,000 for March of Dimes.

"This was more than three times the amount raised last year, so thank you to all who gave so generously to save babies," she said.

"Donations like these are what saved my Ella's life," said Mrs. Hoffman.

Walk America is a fundraiser by the March of Dimes designed to raise funds for research to find causes of birth defects and premature births. Funds are also used to educate expecting mothers on prenatal care, families on how to care for children who have been in neonatal intensive care and to help expecting mothers quit smoking. According to the Web site, www.WalkAmerica.org, the event has raised more than $1.7 billion since its inception in 1970. This year, Cherokee County walkers raised more than $40,000.