March of Dimes Annual March for Babies this Sunday

Friday, April 26, 2013

Jeffrey Starr, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Group from last year's March for Babies

Families and business leaders will join together at the Worcester City Hall Common Sunday in the March of Dimes annual March for Babies—the nation’s oldest walk fundraiser honoring babies born healthy and those who need help to survive and thrive. Registration begins at 9 am, with the walk beginning at 10.

Funds raised by March for Babies in Massachusetts help support prenatal wellness programs, research grants, newborn intensive care unit (NICU) family support programs and advocacy efforts for stronger, healthier babies.
"The March of Dimes spends 76¢ of every dollar you raise in March for Babies to support research and programs that help babies begin healthy lives, " says Michael Vigneux, State Director of Marketing and Communications for the March of Dimes.

"This includes research and education in areas such as newborn screening, folic acid education, surfactant therapies and advocacy initiatives."

A Day for the Whole Family

The route is 3 miles, beginning at the Common and goes up one side of Shrewsbury St. and down the other, ending back at the Common . This will be followed by lunch. Participants can visit the mission area at the finish line, help the kids play at the Family Team Tent or stop by and join the activities at the NICU tent, or enjoy music from DJ Joe and WSRS emcee Tom Holt of WSRS 96.1 FM (he is also hosting the event).

Face painting and stroller decorating will also be activities available to families. Walk teams can have their photo taken with Worcester Sharks mascot Finz who will be on hand.

"Participation in March for Babies will provide a memorable and rewarding day for the whole family," promises Vigneux.

This year’s Worcester Ambassador Family is the Turcottes of Webster. Their son Josh was born at just 34 weeks and spent three months in the NICU due to health issues. Today, thanks in part to research funded by the March of Dimes, Josh is a healthy 10-year-old boy.

The Mission of the March of Dimes

Premature birth is the most urgent infant health problem in the U.S. today. It affects more than half a million babies each year, including more than 7,700 in Massachusetts. More than four million babies were born last year in the U.S. and the March of Dimes helped each and every one through 75 years of research, education, vaccines and breakthroughs. The March of Dimes helps moms have full-term pregnancies and research the problems that threaten the health of babies.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

Locally, the 2013 Worcester March for Babies is sponsored by UniBank, Rickman Management, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Sullivan Benefits, Reliant Medical Group, Eagle Cleaning Corporation, Baystate Financial Services, St. Mary’s Credit Union, Delta Dental of Massachusetts, Fallon Community Health Plan and more.