Underneath the carnival-like atmosphere at Sunday's March for Babies event, emotions ran deep for the many children - some surviving, others not - who faced early births and other physical disabilities at the start of their lives.
Some 600 people, including many families, packed Jefferson City's Memorial Park on Sunday afternoon for the annual walk fundraiser, expected to raise around $160,000 for the March of Dimes. Much of that money goes to research to help mothers have healthy, full-term pregnancies.
Amy Hassler was one of many mothers at the event with similar stories.