Rachel McNally never imagined that she would spend anytime in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit, specializing in the care of ill or premature newborn infants) when she had children. 

But, she was there not once, but twice. Her oldest child, Ben who is turning 10 on Feb. 12, a fourth-grader at Garden City Elementary school, and her twins Hannah and Matt, friendly and funny almost 5-year-old twins starting kindergarten in the fall.

Ben was born premature at 34 weeks, and the twins at 30 weeks. All three of the children spent several weeks under the care of the NICU at Women & Infants.

"Ben was a repeat customer, staying only five days the first time, but returning for a few after going home. Hannah came home on their actual due date, staying in the NICU 68 days, Matt was there 70 days, coming home two days after his sister," said McNally.

McNally is grateful to the March of Dimes for all their research and work on behalf of premature babies. They focus their work in these main areas: funding research to find the causes of premature birth and ways to prevent it, as well as supporting families with a premature baby in newborn intensive care.

"If you were born or had a baby in the past 75 years, you are a March of Dimes family. Folic acid during pregnancy, newborn screenings and more are all results of research funded by the March of Dimes," said McNally.

"We were very honored to be asked to be the Ambassador family. We are able to put a face to the mission, tell our story at events, our personal connection, why we stay involved and what MOD continues to do," she said. President Franklin D. Roosevelt founded the March of Dimes organization Jan. 3, 1938.

McNally, her husband, Mike, and their children have walked in the March for Babies since Ben was born 10 years ago. Over the years Team McNally (originally called Ben's Buddies) has raised over $10,000, a point Rachel is very proud of. Ben was a former 'Top-Walker' raising over $1,000 himself in 2014.

"Ben was born in February, and our first walk was in April. I knew I wanted to be a part of this organization and in some small way give back to them," she said. She also added that the March of Dimes organization was the innovator in the walk program. "MOD was the first group to do a walk as a fundraiser," she said.

One fact that McNally is particularly proud of is the amount of money raised by MOD, which actually goes back into research.

In the Rhode Island/Southeastern Massachusetts Chapter, over 75 cents of every dollar raised through the March for Babies, goes back into research. 

McNally's children understand they were born early and know why their family does what they do to help babies.

For her first fundraising event, McNally is running an online Facebook auction April 21-30. For complete details and list of prizes, or to donate go to www.facebook.com/GoTeamMcNally.

To learn more about the March of Dimes visit www.marchofdimes.org.