On Saturday, May 4 at Olde Mistick Village, hundreds of families and business leaders will join together to 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. Helping to lead the festivities will be the 2013 Ambassadors, the Cooper family of East Lyme. Four year-old Molly was born 14 weeks too soon, weighing just 2 lbs. 12 oz. She spent two month in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Yale-New Haven Hospital receiving specialized care for premature newborns, as she had a slight brain bleed, needed various forms of breathing support and more. “We know that without the research that the March of Dimes funds, Molly’s outcome would not have been likely. Many years ago, babies born as early as Molly rarely survived. But there is still much research to be done. We don’t know why Molly came so early, yet her brother was born full-term and healthy,” said Evan Cooper, Molly’s dad. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the event at 8:30 a.m. Participants will enjoy breakfast and snacks generously donated by Panera Bread, Walmart, and Mohegan Sun; face painting; a bounce house, and local entertainment. To register visit marchforbabies.org or marchofdimes.com/ct. All walkers who raise $200 or more will receive an event t-shirt and those raising $350 or more will have the choice of a Macy’s or Kmart gift card. The March of Dimes celebrates its 75th anniversary this year and its ongoing work to help all babies get a healthy start in life. More than 4 million babies were born in the United States last year, and the March of Dimes has helped each and every one through research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. Mystic March for Babies is sponsored by Olde Mistick Village, Mohegan Sun, CCR Wealth Management, Soft Rock 106.5 WBMW, Jammin 107.7, 94.9 News Now, Kidtivity, and supported by statewide sponsors, NBC Connecticut and Comcast. March for Babies is sponsored nationally by the March of Dimes number one corporate supporter Kmart, Farmers Insurance Group, Macy’s, Cigna, Sanofi Pasteur, Famous Footwear, Actavis, Mission Pharmacal, and United Airlines. 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.
