Moms wrangle support for March of Dimes

TAMPA - Bay Area moms Tiffany Hausdorf and Jenna Walker are always ready for a good fight.

"A different kind of fight. We're fighting for preemies," Hausdorf said.

She and Jenna found the Fight Club for Preemies.

"The fight is for preemies and all babies who struggle when they are born, and the fight is to promote better prenatal care so we have healthy babies, Jenna said.

It's a battle both women know first hand. Tiffany gave birth to her daughter Tessa 15 weeks early.

"She developed a staph infection and was on life support for two weeks," Tiffany said.

Jenna gave birth to quadruplets: Jillian, Cameron, Cash, and Jack. Jenna and Tiffany met at the neo-natal intensive care unit, where their babies spent weeks before becoming well enough to go home.

They say the March of Dimes played a crucial role by researching and developing machines in the NICU.

"If the March of Dimes had not done this research and provided these instruments to All Childrens, I feel our children wouldn't be here today," Tiffany said.

That's why the two friends came up with the Fight Club for Preemies. Their mission is to wrestle every dollar they can to support the March of Dimes. Their opening shot will be a community raffle.

"We have Leroy Selmon donating gift certificates. We have Royal Palms Nail Salon, Northeast Chiropractic and that's not all," Jenna says.

From the giggles and smiles of the kids today, you wouldn't have known how sick they once were.

"If Tessa was born 30 years ago, her survival rate would have been 30 percent. Thanks to the March of Dimes, her survival rate was 90 percent," Tiffany said.

The Fight Club will be walking in Saturday's March for Babies.

For more information on the Fight Club for Preemies, follow this link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fight-Club-Fight-for-Preemies/118302064849918