Saturday, May 12, 2012, hundreds of teams from over 300 families, local businesses and organizations will team up with Indianapolis residents, celebrities, and community leaders to March for Babies–helping raise funds for programs fighting birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. March for Babies is the March of Dimes’ premier fundraising event.
Started in 1970, March for Babies is the original walking event, raising money to fund important research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and give hope to the families of babies born too soon or sick. “March of Dimes is THE champion for babies. The Indianapolis March for Babies supports the great work the March of Dimes is doing locally and nationwide in helping the more than half a million babies who are born too soon each year through research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs,” says Dane Nutty, Chair of the Indy March for Babies and Outreach & Health Education Coordinator for Indianapolis Healthy Start. “This year, in addition to raising vital funds to help our community’s babies, we aim to provide a fun and educational event through partnerships with presenting sponsors Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health and FedEx. We’ve also partnered with Indy’s Child Magazine, who is bringing the Indy’s Child Family Fair to this year’s event.” The Family Fair will offer exciting giveaways, vital health education – like Healthy Baby Bingo provided by Indianapolis Healthy Start – live performances, opportunities to shop with local mompreneurs, and fun games for families after the walk until 3:00 p.m.
The most urgent infant health problem in the U.S. today is premature birth. It affects more than half a million babies each year, with the number growing every day. Babies born too soon are more likely to die or have disabilities. Birth defects are the cause of 1 in 5 infant deaths. The March of Dimes is committed to reducing this toll by funding research to find the answers to premature birth and birth defects and providing comfort and information to families who are affected. Babies born healthy need champions, too, to ensure they have access to newborn screening and preventive health care. The March of Dimes is there for all babies, but we need your help!
- To volunteer for the event, sign up at www.bitly.com/indymfb2012.
- To become a food sponsor, contact Dane Nutty at dnutty@hhcorp.org.
- To register for the walk online, visit www.marchforbabies.org.
- To sign up by phone call 1-800-844-WALK or pick up sponsor forms at Kmart.
The walk takes place Saturday, May 12, 2012 at White River State Park, 801 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204 . Registration starts at 9:00 am, walk starts at 10:00 am. The Indy’s Child Family Fair is open until 3:00 pm. For more information, visit www.marchforbabies.org. Also, make sure to follow the March for Babies progress on twitter via hashtag #indy #mfb2012.
