Staff Reports
Suwanee – Join families and local business leaders for the March of Dimes March for Babies at Suwanee’s Town Center Park this Saturday, April 27 as they walk to support healthy babies and their mothers. Registration is free, but donations in any amount are appreciated.
On-site registration will begin at 9 a.m. with the 3-mile walk kicking off at 10 a.m. Walkers will enjoy a day of family fun that includes face painting, a superhero sprint, bounce houses and food. Online registration is also available at marchforbabies.org.
If you love baseball, you also have a chance to enjoy a Gwinnett Stripers game and support the March of Dimes by purchasing a ticket to the May 11 Gwinnett Stripers vs. Pawtucket Red Sox game at Coolray Field through this link. The Stripers have generously committed to donating a portion of the proceeds back to the March of Dimes. Parking for the game is only $5 (cash) per car. Tickets must be purchased by April 27 before midnight.
March of Dimes gives more than 4 million babies born each year the best possible start. Nearly half a million of them are born prematurely or with birth defects. Premature birth and its complications are the largest contributors to infant death in the U.S. and pregnancy-related deaths have more than doubled over the past 25 years. The most recent numbers for Gwinnett County show 10.2% of babies were born pre-term in 2017.
“When you March for Babies, you make a statement that you want to live in a world in which healthy moms and strong babies are a priority for us all,” says Shane Salter, Executive Director of March of Dimes, Atlanta-Central Market. “Together we hope for the day when all moms and babies are healthy. We remember those babies we lost. We celebrate every baby.”
March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. They support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every baby can have the best possible start. Building on a successful 80-year legacy of impact and innovation, they empower every mom and every family.
March for Babies is sponsored nationally by Kmart, Famous Footwear, Macy’s, HCA, Cigna, and regionally by Publix Super Markets, Inc. March for Babies is sponsored locally by Kids R Kids, Northside Hospital, Eastside Medical Center, Assurant, Gwinnett Medical Center, Mead Johnson Nutrition, Pro Care Emergency Medical Service and WSB-TV.
Alex Rivera, Senior Manager for Customer Care at Assurant-Duluth, has served as a March of Dimes Community Ambassador for more than 10 years. This year he serves as the Gwinnett County March for Babies chair. “I’m a true champion for moms and babies because March of Dimes gave me a fighting chance when I was born prematurely,” says Rivera. “Thanks to the March of Dimes organization, I had a chance to beat the odds to survive. March of Dimes empowers me to make a difference not just in my community, but everywhere by helping improve the health of moms and babies.”
