DANBURY - On November 11, 2006, Jennifer and Brian Bollaro lost their twin daughters, Samantha Jeanne and Emma Grace, to premature birth. The girls were born at just 22 weeks into Mrs Bollaro's pregnancy, and did not survive.The Newtown Bee this week.marchforbabies.org/bbollaro. To register or learn about additional teams participating in the Danbury event later this month, as well as additional events across the state, visit marchofdimes.org/Connecticut.

The March of Dimes has programs and does research that helps prevent birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. They also provide comfort to those with babies in the NICU.

Since the loss of their babies, Mr and Mrs Bollaro have been active with the March of Dimes and its March For Babies program.

"We do this in memory of our daughters and hope that the March of Dimes will someday be successful in finding a cure," Mr Bollaro told

On Friday, April 1, Mr Bollaro, a member of Danbury's King Street Volunteer Fire Department, was joined by fellow firefighters for a March of Dimes Boot Drive at Danbury Ice Arena. Mr Bollaro is also a longtime member of Water Witch Company #2 out of New Milford. Last week, he was joined by two members of King Street Fire and three members of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue for a Fill The Boot Drive.

In about an hour and a half, before and during the early part of the Danbury Titans game, the group collected $466.52.

"One hundred percent of that money went to the Danbury March for Babies through my March for Babies Family Team, Samantha and Emma," Mr Bollaro said April 6. It was the third year for the firefighters to do a collection at the ice rink, he said. Mr Bollaro does a number of different fundraising events for March of Dimes, he added.

The 2016 Danbury March for Babies walk is scheduled for Sunday, April 24. Registration opens at 9:30 am, and the walk will begin an hour later.

The event is moving this year to Tarrywile Park, 70 Southern Boulevard. More than 500 walkers from Danbury and surrounding towns and cities are expected for the event, to celebrate, honor, and remember babies and children.

Teams and walkers are still invited to register, and individuals are invited to support participants through donations. To learn more about the Bollaro team, visit

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