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March benefits babies
Walk Saturday at Otwell Middle
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Forsyth County News
March for Babies

• When: 10 a.m. Saturday; registration opens at 9 a.m.
• Where: Otwell Middle School, 605 Tribble Gap Road
• Online: Participants can register, turn in money or get more information at www.marchforbabies.org.
The annual March of Dimes fundraising season will wind down Saturday with the March for Babies.

Marches will take place nationally in more than 900 communities, raising money for babies’ health at birth.

The march is the “biggest fundraiser” for March of Dimes each year, said Mary Brignati, the organization’s local community director.

About 300 to 500 people are expected to meet Saturday morning at Otwell Middle School for the three-mile walk, followed by a picnic lunch and family activities.

“The purpose is really to fund our mission, which is to try to end premature birth, infant death and birth defects,” Brignati said.

Marchers often come from schools, churches and volunteer groups, as well as families who have been affected by premature births, she said.

The organization hopes to raise $131,000 this year, Brignati said, which is $2,000 more than in 2009.

Participants can register and turn in money online or on the morning of the march.

Some of the proceeds will fund local programs, such as the ANGEL II neonatal transport ambulance. The service transports premature newborns from north Georgia to intensive care units around the metro Atlanta area.

“We do a lot of things locally, but mostly [the money] goes toward the research, any kind of education or any kind of advocacy that we can do,” Brignati said.