Wheel-A-Thon raises money for Spina Bifida Assoc.

Wheel-A-Thon raises money for Spina Bifida Assoc.

By natalie m. vena

Staff Writer

COLTS NECK — Participants decked out in bright yellow T-shirts showed up at Dorbrook Park in Colts Neck on Saturday to participate in the Rosie Price Memorial Wheel-A-Thon.

With the help of 57 participants, the wheel-a-thon raised $3,951 for the Spina Bifida Association of the Tri-State Area.

Participants spent the day traveling down the 2.2-mile paved trail in Dorbrook Park via wheelchairs, skates, bicycles, scooters, baby strollers or foot to raise money for the association.

The wheel-a-thon was organized by Anne and Doug Price of Monroe in memory of their daughter RoseMarie. Rosie, as she preferred to be called — perhaps because her wide eyes and cherub cheeks captured the essence of a rose — was born in January 1995 with spina bifida.

The Prices decided to organize the event to honor their daughter, who passed away in May 1998 following surgery to correct a curve in her spine.

"They (the association) were such a great support to us during Rosie’s life, we wanted to give something back to them and spread the word about the prevention of spina bifida," said Rosie’s dad, Douglas.

The disease did not affect Rosie’s cognitive skills, according to her mom, Anne, but it did require the 3-year-old to use a wheelchair to get around.

Research has shown that nearly 75 percent of all spina bifida cases could be prevented if women of child-bearing age would take a daily multivitamin containing 400 mcg of folic acid before becoming pregnant, according to a Spina Bifida Association pamphlet. Folic acid is a common, water-soluble B vitamin found in multivitamin supplements that is vital to the formation of healthy tissue and red blood cells, and has been found to help prevent spina bifida and other neural tube defects.

"The problem is that many people do not plan to get pregnant, and once the mother knows she is pregnant, it is too late to prevent the birth defect," said Anne Price.

Even though Rosie was stricken with spina bifida, it did not seem to bother the Prices. "I never minded Rosie’s disability," said Anne. "To us, Rosie was perfect. But if I had known about taking folic acid before becoming pregnant, I absolutely would have."

Each year, at least one baby in every thousand is born with spina bifida, making it the most frequently occurring, permanently disabling birth defect in the United States, according to the association.

However, because of new technology, 90 percent of people with spina bifida will grow into adulthood. In comparison, prior to the 1960s, most individuals with spina bifida did not survive childhood.

According to the association, many of its members are outstanding students, athletes, professionals, coaches, and volunteers who are involved enthusiastic and valued contributors to their communities.