HIGH LIFE: A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : HOT, HIP & HAPPENING : Youths Look for Chain Reaction in Infant Care

Eighteen students from eight Orange County high schools are volunteering time this year in a support team for the March of Dimes’ Campaign for Healthy Babies. The team, called Chain Reaction, is a leadership program that helps through community service programs and fund-raising projects.

The Campaign for Healthy Babies seeks to prevent birth defects and low birth-weight through programs of community health services, advocacy, research and public and professional education.

One out of every 16 babies born today in the United States is affected by some sort of birth defect. Each year, 260,000 babies are born prematurely, and 23,000 die from low birth-weight.

“Chain Reaction is our most valuable asset,” said Margeret Baerg, the group’s adviser. “They are the ones recruiting and motivating and using their many individual talents to help our community.”

This year, Chain Reaction’s major events are its Health Conference and Walk America.

The Health Conference will be held Tuesday at the Disneyland Hotel. Students from throughout the county have been invited to the event, which is designed to educate and inform them about relevant health issues and to prepare them to take practical precautions with their lifestyles.

The goal of Walk America, the March of Dimes’ No. 1 fund-raiser, is to raise $508,000 for the Campaign for Healthier Babies.

Members of Chain Reaction serve as liaisons to their schools, where they are trying to involve and motivate their peers through presentations and on a one-on-one basis.

The sites of this year’s walks--to be held Saturday, April 24, starting at 7 a.m.--include Dana Point, Huntington Beach and Irvine.

University High School student Ed Aaron, Chain Reaction’s chairman, says he hopes to “really get students involved in this year’s activities. Our goal is to not only raise money for the campaign, but also to educate the community and its young people about the important issues that face us daily.”

For more information, contact the March of Dimes at (714) 631-8700.