Appearing in May 14, 1998
STAR BEACON

JIM MATTHEWS / Star Beacon

WALKATHON TREKKERS head up the incline along the Route 20 train track overpass at about the halfway point of the recent March of Dimes Walk America. Teen participants like Christiana Bryner, Stephanie Sedmak and Anita Bailey made up a large portion of the walkers who raised money for the March of Dimes campaign against birth defects.

A chain reaction

Teens do their bit to battle birth defects

By ROBERT LEBZELTER
Special Sections Editor
When Jason Sams was born 18 years ago, he weighed a mere 3 pounds, 13 1/2 pounds.
His twin sister, Lisa, weighed little more than two pounds.
"We were rushed to Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital," Sams said. "I was there three weeks. She was there for four."
Although premature, both grew and thrived.
In fact, they both will be graduating from Harbor High School in a few weeks.
What was done for the twins back then at the Cleveland hospital and the work of the March of Dimes has been a big part of Jason's life.
So much so, as a freshman at 15, he called the March of Dimes to find out how he could help.
He became a youth coordinator, working through the March of Dimes teen volunteer division, called Chain Reaction.
He has worked through offices in Cleveland and Youngstown and is one of a handful of kids trying to bring a chapter to Ashtabula County.
"There are 10 to 12 kids in Ashtabula County," Sams said, who are involved. "Not that many. We're based out of Cleveland at the Independence Office. We started discussing getting more people involved if we were local. We started branching out."
One of the first people he drafted was Lori Merkel, who was busy enough between her job at the Geneva Wendy's and being a junior at Geneva High School.
Lori has no personal story to tell of premature birth or birth defects.
"Jason called me in January and asked me to go to a Valentine's Day formal. That's when I got involved," Merkel said.
"The main idea (of March of Dimes) is phenomenal. If it wasn't for March of Dimes money donated, Jason wouldn't be here right now. I wouldn't have a best friend," she said.
Merkel and other kids then visited a Cleveland Super K mart to pass out information about folic acid and complimentary orange juice.
Folic acid can help prevent some birth defects of the brain and spine. The March of Dimes encourages all women of childbearing age to consume .04 milligrams of folic acid each day. It's found in multivitamins, as well as green, leafy vegetables, fortified grains, oranges and - of course - orange juice.
Later, she participated in the Cleveland Walk America event to raise money to fight birth defects.
"I recognized four or five people in the Cleveland walk I handed out fliers to," she said.
It's the ability to make a difference that have made Merkel, Sams and others big proponents of Chain Reaction.
"If I'm not at work or school or sleeping, I'm doing something for March of Dimes," she said.
The organization isn't all the gritty reality of birth defects. Members have many memories of fun events.
Sure, there are the many dances and other such events to raise money, but Sams also remembers going to the IX Center in Cleveland for Wonder Walk for little kids. Teens would dress like medical personnel and at various stations explain to them how they can help with their infant siblings, things like how to hold and burp babies.
He's been to Columbus to study the March of Dimes' progress. He's participated in discussions on whether it is biology or the environment that causes more birth defects. He's been enlightened to the tragedies birth defects can cause by revisiting the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital.
Recently, members passed out folic acid literature at the Ashtabula Mall K mart, too.
He's helped out with another Cleveland March of Dimes fundraiser, the Celebrity Treadmill, which included members of the Cleveland Crunch.
If Sams isn't participating himself, he's plotting and prodding for others to do likewise.
"They all blame me," he says with a laugh. "They say the reason they're doing it is Jason, but they know it's a good cause."
Says Merkel, "A few of us are really dedicated. Others are in it to put on a resume for college, which really irritates me. But a few are dedicated to making a difference."
How dedicated? A few weeks ago five kids were on their way to Rainbow. This would be Merkel's first look at the neonatal unit.
Unfortunately, they were in a traffic accident and never made it.
The kids suffered bumps, bruises and whiplash.
But they were all in the Ashtabula Walk America through the city the next morning, despite their experience.
Brenda Williams of Ashtabula is the youth adviser for the kids and has nothing but admiration for them.
The kids come up with their own ideas for fundraisers and then do all of the work, she said.
"Believe it or not, it's an absolute success," she said.
From dances to skating parties, to spaghetti dinners to fish fries, the students find ways to raise money for March of Dimes and have fun.
Once they visit Rainbow, the kids are usually hooked, she said.
"Seeing is believing. This was an educational process. You see criticism of youth today, but these kids are now saving lives. This is a good group of young kids, dedicated kids. Kids sometimes get into something and then lose interest, but these kids stick with it."
Their activities have taken them to such far-flung areas such as Georgetown in Washington to St. Louis.
After graduation, Sams wants to take his activities to the collegiate level.
"I want to make youth more aware, especially older students. Little kids in elementary schools are easier to get involved. You can't get adults who never volunteered to start volunteering."

JIM MATTHEWS/Star Beacon

MARCH OF DIMES walkathon teen volunteers Jason Shippey and Rick Pulkkinen stop by a waypoint at West Avenue and Prospect Road to grab some candy and a drink during the long trek around Ashtabula.

How you can join

The local chapter of teen March of Dimes Chain Reaction is just getting off the ground.
It's members right now go to Ashtabula, Ashtabula Harbor, Edgewood and Geneva high schools, but kids from all over the county are welcome.
Adult adviser Brenda Williams said letters were sent to principals from all county high schools, asking for nominations. Kids in eighth through 12th grades are eligible.
Meetings are held the first Saturday of the month at the Geneva VFW.
Anyone interested can call Williams at 969-1335 or the March of Dimes youth volunteer coordinator at 1-800-686-2323.
- Robert Lebzelter

She gets answer without asking the question

A Mandy White column

CHICAGO - It was a great chair. A little worn on the armrests, and looking comfortable with unassuming blue fabric in a woven diamond pattern. And of course he had sat in it.
"Go ahead, touch it," my friend, Carol, said jokingly. "You know you want to."
She was right, I did want to. Furtively, I brushed my fingers across the armrest and immediately felt guilty; after all I'd be grossed out if somebody wanted to touch my chair.
I had come to Chicago with some friends and we were five floors up on the Tribune Tower, waiting for syndicated columnist Bob Greene. He was in a meeting, his secretary said, but he'd be done in a minute and we could wait in his office until he was finished. I stood, too nervous to sit, and since my friends occupied the only two chairs besides his chair, I decided to inspect Greene's bookshelves.
Talking to Mr. Greene and seeing his office meant a lot to me. Someday, I tell myself, I'm going to be a columnist, a storyteller. If things go well, one day I'll have an office myself on the Tribune's fifth floor.
So like the kid who comes to the ball park a little early so he can catch a glimpse of his favorite player practicing, I wanted to see my favorite writer, working.
Truthfully, he looks as much like a benevolent high school science teacher questioning you about a test score as a columnist. With eyes lively behind glasses slid to the tip of his nose, leaning back in his chair so he can size you up properly.
I don't know how I sized up, probably like the intensely nervous, more than a little goony 17-year-old I am. But I do know that the things I wanted to ask him I couldn't, and didn't. Instead we made some small talk (he asked questions and I answered them), and he signed the book I had brought for a friend. Mr. Greene also gave and signed for me a copy of "Be True to Your School," my favorite book, and a best-seller for him.
It was cool of Mr. Greene to take time out for me once again. It had happened two years ago when my 15-year-old self called up the Tribune and he agreed to give me a little interview time for a story. I was surprised, and as my family would say, ecstatic when he called me and thanked me for the article I had written, and invited me to see him play in concert with Jan and Dean.
To people that busy, even small chunks of time are immensely valuable, the best gift they can give you.
So my friends and I were thankful to be chatting with him for awhile before he excused himself; it was a deadline day and he had work to get done. I still hadn't got to ask him, If I try with everything I have can I do it? Do you still love what you do? Is it all worth it? Instead I shook his hand and said, "Boy, it was really good to see you again, Mr. Greene."
Standing outside the Tribune Tower I glanced at the inscription in my book. "For Mandy," it said. "Make your book better than this one. Bob"
And I couldn't help but wonder if he knew what I had wanted to ask, and had given me an answer.
White is available to sign autographs, too, but she charges a small fee.

Read past White columns on line.

Stuff

Bridges to R.O.C.K.

So you're heading toward Bridge Street and you're stopped at that stupid closed bridge. What do you do?
Hang a left, right? Yeah, left.
Well do that Saturday night and you'll end up at the Sons of Italy on Columbus Avenue and that's where R.O.C.K. is putting on its latest, greatest show.
It starts at 6 p.m. with that awesome Gothic metal band Undermind, the rock'n music of All-Night Garage Sale (there's a scary name), Area 51, Shiver, The Yellow Snowmen, Noumania, Swin(7)dle and others.
The cost, a measly $4.
Hey, prepare to mosh.
Really.

Hair today

So you don't have that big hair like everyone else?
Don't panic. DON'T PANIC. Check out "Skin Care, Make-up and Hair Styles" Friday at 7 p.m. at the Conneaut Community Center.
The seminar will be offered by Nancy Evans, a licensed cosmetologist and stylist. Students will be able to experiment with different techniques.
A $5 fee will be charged, and reservations can be made by calling the CCC at 593-5888.
Ya know.

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