Hundreds from Lower Fairfield County to Gather for Walk to Help All Babies Be Born Healthy

On Saturday, April 23rd at its new location at Cove Island Park in Stamford, hundreds of families and business leaders will join together at March for Babies—the March of Dimes walk honoring babies born healthy and those who need help to survive and thrive. Funds raised help support prenatal wellness programs, research grants, neonatal intensive care unit family support programs and advocacy efforts for stronger, healthier babies.

Leading the festivities will be the event’s 2016 Ambassadors, Lorrie and Roman Ozimek of New Canaan, along with their children, Lauren, 15, Elizabeth, 12, Andrew, 10 and Ryan, 5. They will share their family’s prematurity journey, thank walkers for their commitment to the March of Dimes mission to give all babies a healthy start, and lead the walk with their team, “Team Ryan the Miracle.”

In October 2010, Lorrie and Roman were looking forward to the late January birth of their fourth child. But when Lorrie’s hypertension (blood pressure) could no longer be controlled, a decision was made to deliver for the health of both mom and baby. On Halloween, at just 28 weeks (12 weeks too soon), Ryan was born at Greenwich Hospital weighing 2 lbs. 7 oz. He remained in the neonatal intensive care unit for 53 days before coming home just before Christmas.

“We feel honored to support such a wonderful organization that does so much to improve the health and lives of babies and their mothers through amazing research and programs. It’s also a way to share Ryan’s story in an effort to provide hope and comfort to other families with babies born too soon,” said Lorrie.

Each year in Connecticut more than 36,000 babies are born. 1 in 10 babies are born too soon, and 1 in 7 infant deaths is attributed to a birth defect, and nearly 200 babies die before reaching their first birthday. The mission of the March of Dimes is to prevent birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality through research, education, advocacy and community programs.

Families at March for Babies will enjoy activities such as face painting, a bounce house, performances by the Dolan Middle School dance team and onsite music. Food options will include breakfast items and food for purchase from local food trucks, including Crazy Taco Mex. Stamford March for Babies is sponsored by News12CT and Connecticut Parent Magazine.

Cove Island Park is located at 25 Cove Road in Stamford. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and the event at 10:30 a.m. To register visit marchforbabies.org/event/stamford. Participants can also register on-site on April 23rd. All walkers who raise $100 or more will receive an event t-shirt and those raising $250 or more will have the choice of a March of Dimes branded item (among other incentives as fundraising increases).

For more than 78 years, moms and babies have benefitted from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines and breakthroughs. Find out how you can help raise funds to prevent premature birth and birth defects by walking in March for Babies at marchforbabies.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. The 2016 March for Babies is sponsored nationally by the March of Dimes number one corporate supporter, Kmart, Famous Footwear, Macy’s, Cigna, United Airlines and Mission Pharmacal.