Sunday, April 22, 2012

March of Dimes Walk Fundraiser Next Sunday

On Sunday, April 29 at its new location at Union Park/South Green, hundreds of families and business leaders will join together to March for Babies—the March of Dimes walk fundraiser honoring babies born healthy and those who need help to survive and thrive. Funds raised help support prenatal wellness programs, research grants, neonatal intensive care unit family support programs and advocacy efforts for stronger, healthier babies. 

“This is an exciting new venue for our walk and we look forward to seeing the many friends we've established over the past 27 years, as well as the large contingent of newcomers registered to participate this year,” said Ed Dzialo, founding member of the Middletown event.  "Our thanks to all who have so generously assisted us from across Middlesex County - your support to this great organization has been overwhelming.”


Registration begins at 9 a.m. with the walk kicking off at 10 a.m.  Participants will enjoy music, food, a bounce house, face painting, giveaways and much more. To register visit marchforbabies.org or marchofdimes.com/ct.  All walkers who raise $200 or more will receive an event t-shirt and those raising $350 or more will have the choice of a Macy’s or Kmart gift card.   

Helping to lead the festivities will be four-year old Marionna Patterson of Middletown.  Born nearly 16 weeks early, she weighed one pound four ounces and spent four months in the neonatal intensive care unit at UConn Health Center. 
“Without the research funded by the March of Dimes there is a good chance Marionna would not be here today, nor would she be as healthy as she is.  We hope our story gives a hope and encouragement to other families who are going through a stay at the NICU,” said Karla Lutton, Marionna’s mother.

Middletown March for Babies is sponsored by
Community Health Center, Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, Krasow, Garlick & Hadley, Middlesex Hospital, Crescent Street OB/GYN and 102.9 DRC-FM.  Statewide sponsors are NBC Connecticut and Comcast.  March for Babies is sponsored nationally by Kmart, Farmers Insurance Group, Cigna, Famous Footwear, Sanofi Pasteur, FedEx, Mission Pharmacal, Watson Pharmaceuticals, First Response, and United Airlines.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.  Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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