March of Dimes Walk Slated at Methodist University
by DR. SHANESSA FENNER
Four million babies were born last year and the March of Dimes was
perform. Food vendors will be on hand to sell subs, pizza and breakfast items.
there for each and every one of them.
There will be a Kid Zone with many
One in nine babies are born too soon.
activities for the youngsters to enjoy.
The mission of the March of Dimes
The March of Dimes��� Ambassador
is to improve the health of babies by
Family, the Poulks, will speak along
preventing birth defects, premature
with Dr. Ben Hancock, president
birth and infant mortality. It is in
of Methodist University. Their
support of this mission that the March
twin children, aged 2, were born
of Dimes will host its ���March for
prematurely. They were born at 25
Babies��� walk on Saturday, April 13 at
weeks and 5 days and weighed 2
10 a.m. at Methodist University. This
pounds, 14 ounces and 2 pounds, 14.5
is the 75th anniversary of the March
ounces. One child spent six weeks in
of Dimes. Founded in 1938 by FDR,
the neonatal intensive care unit and
the organization���s original goal was to
the other one spent seven weeks in
eradicate polio. When March of Dimes
the NICU at Cape Fear Valley Medical
fulfilled the mission, the new challenge
Center. They are doing incredibly
became helping to prevent birth defects
well today. Each year an Ambassador
and premature births.
Family is selected to tell the story of
���This exciting event is a celebration
how the March of Dimes impacted their
of the fundraising that takes place year
children���s lives and the successes of
round by our teams and sponsors in
their birth.
The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by
the area,��� said Catherine Heindselman,
���We encourage everyone to come
preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.
director of the Cape Fear Division of
out and support us as we take on this
March of Dimes. ���There will be 1,000
challenge,��� said Heindselman. ���We are
participants who will come out for the event and they consist of family
recruiting teams so please come out and register.���
teams, company teams and individual walkers.���
Registration for the event begins at 9 a.m. The opening
The money is raised through online fundraising or the various events the
ceremony will start at 9:40 a.m. and the walk will begin
groups have during the year. The agency has set a goal of $140,000 for
at 10 a.m. Visit www.marchforbabies.org or call (910)
the event.
483-3691 for more
DR. SHANESSA FENNER, Contributing
The event will consist of food, fun and entertainment. Dance teams, step
information.
Writer. Comments? Editor@upandcominteams and singing groups from Methodist University and the community will
gweekly.com.
BETTER VISION
Optometric Center
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APRIL 3-9, 2013 UCW
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