DENVER, Colo., March 11, 2004 -- The community is invited to help fight prematurity and other infant-health problems by participating in the upcoming March of Dimes WalkAmerica, the nonprofit group said today. Event sign-up forms are now available at all area AT&T, Foley’s, King Soopers, Kmart and Papa John’s Pizza locations, or by calling the March of Dimes at (303) 692-0011. Those interested can also register online at walkamerica.org.

WalkAmerica is slated for Saturday, April 24 at Civic Center Park and throughout downtown. A minimum $25 donation per walker is suggested. Prizes (including store gift cards and airline tickets) are available to those who collect donations of $200 or more before event day.

Having raised $1.2 million for WalkAmerica in 2003, Colorado walkers this year have a goal of $1.3 million. Funds help the March of Dimes work to achieve its mission: improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. A key March of Dimes initiative is fighting prematurity, the leading cause of newborn death in Colorado and nationwide. The March of Dimes works to achieve its mission through research, community services, education and advocacy.

Celebrating its 34th anniversary this year, WalkAmerica is the nation’s oldest charitable walking event and the largest annual March of Dimes fundraiser. It takes place in 1,400 communities across the country. In addition to Denver, other Colorado communities hosting WalkAmerica events include Boulder, Fort Collins/Loveland, Greeley, Colorado Springs and Pueblo.

WalkAmerica sponsors include Farmers Insurance Group, The Children’s Hospital, CIGNA, the Denver Business Journal, Discovery Health Channel, Famous Footwear, Frontier Airlines, Kmart, OppenheimerFunds, Papa John’s Pizza and radio stations KOOL 105, Mix 100 and Jammin 92.5.

The March of Dimes is a national nonprofit health organization founded in 1938.  In Colorado, the March of Dimes currently funds $1.5 million in healthy-baby research and programs. For more information, visit the March of Dimes at marchofdimes.com (English) and nacersano.org (Spanish).

For JPG images of WalkAmerica, please e-mail bherlinger@marchofdimes.com.