March of Dimes Draws 450 to Danbury Walk

More than 450 people supported Connecticut’s tiniest citizens – babies --  on Sunday in Danbury and raised $85,000 at March for Babies, the March of Dimes walk fundraiser. The charity fundraiser was designed to honor babies born healthy and to help those who are born weakter to survive and thrive.  Nine March for Babies events in Connecticut took place this weekend aiming to raise over $1.1 million.

Funds raised by March for Babies help support prenatal wellness programs, research grants, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) family support programs and advocacy efforts for stronger, healthier babies. 

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.  In November the March of Dimes issued its 3rd Premature Birth Report Card, giving the nation a D and Connecticut a C.  Babies born too soon are more likely to die or have disabilities.  The March of Dimes is committed to reducing this toll by funding research to find the answers to premature birth and providing comfort and information to families who are affected.

Local March of Dimes Ambassadors, the Matzinger family of Danbury, addressed the crowd about their own connection to the March of Dimes mission and their own experiences with premature birth.  Ryan was born 14 weeks early and weighed just 2 lbs. 4 oz.  He spent 87 days in the neonatal intensive care unit at Danbury Hospital receiving specialized care for premature newborns.  Now 12 years old, Ryan is healthy and thriving.
The March of Dimes thanks all walkers, donors, volunteers and sponsors for their support of March for Babies in Danbury.  Photos are available online at www.facebook.com/marchofdimesct.

Candlewood Regional March for Babies is proudly presented by Connex International and sponsored by Branson, 98Q and Serendipity Magazine.  Statewide sponsors include NBC Connecticut and Comcast, with support from Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder, Stanley-Black & Decker, Bob’s Discount Furniture and UnitedHealthcare.  March for Babies is sponsored nationally by the March of Dimes number one corporate supporter Kmart, Farmers Insurance Group, Bayer HealthCare, CIGNA, Famous Footwear, FedEx, Sanofi Pasteur, United Airlines, First Response, and Mission Pharmacal.
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.