Walkers Needed In Gwinnett for March of Dimes’ March for Babies

Looking for an opportunity to get some fresh air, exercise and give back to a meaningful cause this spring? Join thousands of families and local business leaders on April 27th to walk to help more babies be born healthy. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m and the 3-mile March for Babies begins at 10:00 a.m. And if you love baseball, you also have a chance to enjoy a Gwinnett Striper game and support the March of Dimes. By purchasing a ticket to the May 11th Gwinnett Stripers vs. Pawtucket Red Sox game @ 6:05 p.m. at Coolray Field through this link, the Gwinnett Stripers have generously committed to donating a portion of the proceeds back to the March of Dimes. Parking available for $5 (cash only) per car. Tickets must be purchased by April 27th 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 death has more than doubled over the past 25 years. The most recent numbers for Gwinnett County show 10.2 percent of babies were born preterm 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.”

On-site registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. with the 3-mile walk kicking off at 10:00 a.m. Walkers will enjoy a day of family fun that includes face painting, a superhero sprint, bounce houses, and food. You can sign up today at marchforbabies.orgfor the Gwinnett County event or register for other area March for Babies and begin fundraising in person or online. Start a team with your company, family or friends. You can also simply donate directly. Any amount is appreciated as they work towards their $375,000 goal.

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.”

Gwinnett County Ambassador Family Story

This year’s Gwinnett County ambassador family is The Picket Family.Quickly into pregnancy, it was noted that Hope and Clete’s baby wasn’t achieving the growth span that the doctors would have liked so I began seeing a maternal fetal specialist weekly in the first trimester. Doctors said Hope had IUGR, Intrauterine Growth Restriction. She was put on bed rest after several scans showed her amniotic fluid was ebbing and flowing and was told that they would be delivering by 36 weeks if not sooner. Then she broke her ankle, which made pregnancy even harder, but she pushed through. But at 34 weeks, when the doctors could not find any amniotic fluid, the doctor told sent them to Emory Johns Creek to begin the process of early labor. The next day, their daughter Dylan was born weighing 3 pounds, 11 ounces and dropped to 3 pounds 7 ounces within 24 hours of being delivered. Dylan was in the NICU for 24 days. “Without the March of dimes, I would not have been as familiar with IUGR as well as having an understanding of the help available to myself and my family,” says Hope. “Everyone is related to infant loss, prematurity, and/or infant/child complications in some sort of way. The more research and the more help that is available helps all of us as we grow, as we continue to have children, and as culture changes.”

About March of Dimes

March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We 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, we empower every mom and every family. Visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org for more information. Visit shareyourstory.org for comfort and support. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

Future March for Babies in Metro Atlanta

Downtown Atlanta (May 4 - Old Fourth Ward Park), Conyers (May 4 - Costly Mill Park), Virtual Walk (any day, anywhere). To see all regional March for Babies walks, visit marchforbabies.org.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Melissa Cox, March of Dimes, Atlanta-Central Market, 770-301-3408, mcox@marchofdimes.org

OR

Betsy Helgager Hughes, BLH Consulting, Inc., 404-771-9793, betsy@blhconsulting.net