The March of Dimes’ Mid Delta March for Babies held its kickoff event Wednesday at Greenwood Leflore Hospital.
Local teams will begin fundraising and organizing for the June 6 fundraising walk to be held at the hospital. The event raises money for March of Dimes, a national nonprofit focused on improving the health of babies and expecting mothers.
Allison Faulkner, director of communications for the hospital, said that volunteers and teams can still sign up to participate in the charity walk and fundraiser.
“We need everyone that’s always participated to come back and help raise money for March of Dimes,” Faulkner said.
Jennifer Stanley, community director for the March of Dimes, said the proceeds from the annual walk will go toward funding research, screenings and initiatives to improve the health of newborns and to help premature babies. Last year’s walk, held in May, raised $6,500 for the charity.
The Mid-Delta Walk, Stanley said, is among a number of regional walks being held throughout the state. A major statewide march is scheduled for April 25 in Jackson.
The charity was founded in 1938 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to combat the then-widespread epidemic of polio. The president was stricken by the disease, which left him wheelchair-bound.
The March of Dimes has since broadened its focus to include general maternal health, placing a particular focus over the last 40 years on improving survival rates for premature babies.
Anyone interested in participating in this year’s March for Babies can find more information on the nonprofit’s website, www.marchforbabies
.org, or by contacting Stanley at 601-502-6187 or the Mid-Delta March for Babies chair, Misti Vaughn, at 392-2300.
Contact Bryn Stole at 581-7235 or bstole@gwcommonwealth.com.
