March of Dimes Walk is April 29

Hundreds people will take a four-mile walk and raise over $10,000 to save babies. The March of Dimes Newark WalkAmerica will take place at 10 a.m. on April 29 from the Community Center on East Avenue. Registration begins at 9 a.m., with pre-walk festivities beginning at 9:45 a.m., and the walk kickoff at 10 a.m.

'Each step taken and every dollar turned in by our walkers makes a difference,' said Mark Santelli, WalkAmerica chair. Santelli, a Financial Advisor with Axa Advisors, added, 'The money raised on WalkAmerica Day will support March of Dimes programs across the country and right here in our community. We want to ensure that every baby gets a healthy start in life. Every year 150,000 babies are born with a birth defect in the United States, so the March of Dimes mission to save babies impacts us all.'

Over 40% of all the funds raised by the March of Dimes come to the organization on WalkAmerica Day. Over one million walkers in 1400 communities across the United States will be taking steps for healthier babies. WalkAmerica supports programs of research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies from birth defects, low birthweight and infant death.

Over 25 teams from local businesses, schools, and organizations will participate in the Newark WalkAmerica on April 29, according to Cheryl Burgess, March of Dimes Team Walk Chair. Burgess, of HSBC Bank in Palmyra, says, '80% of all funds raised on WalkAmerica Day come from team walkers. We are encouraged by all the organizations and business that are supporting the March of Dimes Newark WalkAmerica.'

The March of Dimes funds eight local community grants throughout the Genesee Valley Finger Lakes area, plus two $50,000 research grantees at the University of Rochester. Both grantees are practicing physicians in Strong Memorial Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

For information call 716.424.3250 or 1.800.338.9038.