Young Madeline Spohr Captures Worldwide Audience Raising an Amazing $57,000 for March of Dimes 'March for Maddie' Thanks to Blogs and Twitter

"I think people have been drawn in by Madeline's eyes and smile, and her endless positivity," Maddie's mother, Heather Spohr, explained. "She was always smiling, always happy, and I think people have responded to that. They know what she went through in her life and yet, she was never unhappy. Mike and I always shared that about her."

The March of Dimes pioneered treatments that saved Madeline Spohr's life when she was born prematurely in 2007, weighing only 3 lbs, 1 oz.

Her parents, Heather and Mike Spohr, shared young Maddie's life with everyone online through the blog, "The Spohrs Are Multiplying."

In honor of the work by the March of Dimes, the Spohrs started fundraising to participate in the annual March for Babies. They planned to stroll Maddie through the three-mile trek in her favorite pink car.

"Our original financial goal was $3,000 for our team," Mike Spohr said. "We thought that was a pretty lofty goal, in this economic climate."

When Madeline passed away unexpectedly only weeks ago at the young age of 17-months, it caught the attention of an ever-expanding online community.

"As of now, over $41,000 has been donated to our team, and nationwide the other teams in her honor have raised almost $16,000," Heather added. "Most of those amounts have been in small increments of $10 or $20. It's overwhelming, and very comforting. Many people said, 'I know it's not much,' but I have to disagree. It's a hard thing to part with your money. And it has added up in a very real way. I hope that everyone who has donated feels proud of what Team March For Maddie has accomplished. Our financial goals have already been blown away, but of course we would love to raise as much money in our daughter's name as possible. Emotionally, we want to focus on celebrating her life and helping others, and right now the most immediate way to do it is through the March for Babies."

There are thousands of people who are following the family's blog Remember Maddie, Mike's blog The Newborn Identity and Heather's writings on Twitter. Some of the names are famous. "Jimmy Fallon was the first. Then Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Alyssa Milano, Soleil Moon Frye, I'm certain I'm forgetting some. It's mind-blowing. We've also heard from MANY people overseas. Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Japan, Jerusalem, The UK, and many, MANY others - and these are just the people who have reached out to us," Mike noted. "There have been visits to our blogs from dozens of countries."

While everyone wants the Spohr family to feel their love and support online, many people also seem to be seeking comfort and hope. "It's funny, I don't feel like I am comforting others. I am just trying to figure it all out myself. I am writing because it's an escape, and because there is still more of Maddie's story to tell. Maddie's story will continue until Mike and I are no longer on this Earth," Heather said. "She will live on through us, her family, and maybe eventually a sibling or two."

With the March for Maddie coming so close to her passing, it is difficult. But, the family's strength is a shining example of love for their little girl with big, beautiful eyes. "The timing of the walk is something we couldn't help, but I think it's helping us focus on what we can do in her honor. I think we would have been floundering if this hadn't happened so close to the walk. We don't mind the attention, because it means more people are learning about our daughter. We want her to be remembered," Mike explained. "I've been reading what people are writing, and it's been so nice to see that people are comforting us as a family. Often times in situations like this, the father is forgotten."

In fact, most people quickly respond to a mother's loss of a child. But, Mike has unexpectedly created an awareness of the father's loss as well. His blog has received hundreds of supportive comments in response to sharing his daughter's tribute.

"Our hope for Maddie's story is that people remember her," Heather said. "We want people to know how genuinely happy she was, how much she changed our lives for the better. Mike and I were pretty cynical people until she came around. She made us see the world in a new way, and we hope that she can continue to do the same for others. We've already received countless emails, seen thousands of tweets, and read hundreds of blogs where the authors say Maddie changed their lives. We hope that continues. It is hard to see that people are hugging their own children a little tighter when we don't have our daughter to hug, but we are happy that Maddie is leading parents to appreciate their children a little more."

Both Heather and Mike made a personal decision to celebrate Maddie's life at her funeral, rather than only mourn her passing. "It was never possible to be unhappy around Maddie. It wouldn't be right to only be sad now. She simply would not have understood. We were extremely comforted by the huge crowd at the funeral. There is something to be said for physically BEING there for people in their time of need," Heather reinforced. "When I looked up during my speech and saw all those people, it gave me the strength to give my speech. We met many bloggers for the first time that day. We also met readers, people that don't have their own blogs but read ours. The purple balloon release that closed the funeral service was so beautiful, all the balloons so colorful and cheerful in the sky. Maddie had only recently learned about balloons, she would have LOVED to see all of them blowing around."

Heather and Mike agree that it does take a village to help each other, especially as their village of support is widening. "I can't imagine going through this without the amazing and vast support we have received. It would be so, so lonely," Mike said. "I've learned that just because you might not be physically introduced to someone it doesn't mean they aren't your friend. That you can truly care and love someone that you only met online. And that online friendships are just as real and valid as the ones you have offline."

The online community has been very aware of how much they post about Maddie and her story, even with written expressions of concern, removals of posts, and repostings. Everyone is so careful with their wording as they are being extremely sensitive and aware of Maddie's family. But, Heather and Mike want to remind people of their wishes for everyone to continue to share Maddie's story and links to March for Maddie. "This is okay with us. The more people that know about our baby, the better," Heather reminded. "In the moments after Maddie passed, I remember thinking that no one would really know or care that she was gone. And now we know that's not true, that SO MANY people know, and care, and will remember her. Everyone wants their child to make an impact on the world, and ours has. Maddie's story isn't over. She will continue to live on as long as we write about her, and her story won't be done being told until Mike and I are no longer on this planet."

The March for Babies and March for Maddie will take place Saturday, April 25th, through March of Dimes.

For more information about Madeline Alice Spohr or to donate any amount to the March for Maddie visit Remember Maddie.

Pictured: 17-month-old Madeline Alice Spohr

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