Child ambassador urges Valley participation

LIBERTY — “Thank you for saving children and please go walk,” said Ezekiel “Zeek” Taylor, 2007 National Ambassador Child for the March of Dimes WalkAmerica.

Zeek, 8, a young man of few words and many smiles, was at the Holiday Inn MetroPlex today with his mother, Betty, as part of a national MOD tour to raise awareness about the growing prevalence of premature births in the United States, particularly among blacks.

He is the first National Ambassador Child to visit the Mahoning Valley.

The “walk” Zeek referred to is a key fundraiser for the MOD. Local walks are scheduled for later this year.

His mother said Zeek, who was severely premature when he was born and weighed just 1 pound 14 ounces, is today a a healthy, normal second-grader who loves music, cooking, making greeting cards and performing with a drum line.

But when he was born 14 weeks early, both he and his mother were fighting for their lives.

For full story, see Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com.