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March for Babies is Saturday
Annual walk fundraiser a family-friendly event
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Participants walk along Pilgrim Mill Road during a previous Forsyth County March for Babies event. The 2009 march will be Saturday. - photo by Submitted
If you're going

Forsyth County March for Babies, benefitting March of Dimes, will be held Saturday at Otwell Middle School. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the walk at 10 a.m. For more information or to pre-register, go online at www.marchforbabies.org.
Healthy babies and those born needing a little extra help will all be celebrated Saturday during the Forsyth County March for Babies.

The event will be held at Otwell Middle School, raising money for the March of Dimes and its mission to ensure all babies are born healthy.

“March for Babies is a celebration of all babies, those who are born healthy and those who need our help to survive and thrive,” said Jana Dover, community director for March of Dimes.

“We all have children in our lives, whether it be our own, our extended family or friends, that we celebrate. This is a chance for everyone in Forsyth to join together for an important cause — our future.”

Dover said the event has been held locally for more than 10 years. She said last year’s walk raised some $135,000, with more than 400 walkers divided among 42 teams.

Dover said Saturday’s walk should be even more successful.

“We have over 50 teams participating in 2009 and we hope to have over 500 walkers on Saturday,” she said.

Those wishing to participate, but who have not yet signed up, can still do so by going online at www.marchforbabies.org. They can also sign up Saturday morning beginning at 9 a.m.

Committee chair Lynn Jackson, administrator at Northside Hospital-Forsyth, this year’s march presenting sponsor, said the hospital is thrilled to join in the cause.

“At Northside Hospital-Forsyth we are excited to join in the tradition that the March of Dimes and Northside Hospital have established by working together for years in mutual dedication to maternal and infant health,” she said.

“The money we raise for March for Babies will support lifesaving research, services, education and advocacy that helps us to reach our goal that every baby gets a healthy start.”

In addition to the walk, Dover said Saturday’s event will be “family-friendly, full of activities and fun.”

She said some of the features include a hot air balloon, children’s inflatables, face painting, morning aerobics and entertainment including school drumlines and cheerleaders, music and demonstrations.

“We welcome anyone who wants to come walk with us,” she said.

E-mail Crystal Ledford at crystalledford@forsythnews.com.