DENVER, Colo., Feb. 14, 2005--The March of Dimes has launched its annual team recruitment drive for WalkAmerica, it was announced today. Businesses and groups interested in forming teams of walkers to participate are invited to call the March of Dimes at (303) 692-0011.

WalkAmerica will be held on Saturday, April 30 at Civic Center Park and throughout downtown. Teams of any number and from any type of business are welcome to participate. Families and groups of friends are also invited to form teams and walk.

Celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2005, 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, Colorado communities hosting WalkAmerica events include Boulder, Colorado Springs, Greeley, Pueblo and Fort Collins/Loveland.

Funds raised through WalkAmerica support March of Dimes efforts to improve 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. The WalkAmerica 2005 fundraising goal for Colorado is $1.4 million.

WalkAmerica state sponsors are Loaf 'N Jug and Farmers Insurance Group. Local sponsors are CIGNA HealthCare, The Childrens Hospital, Fox 31, the Denver Business Journal and radio stations KYGO, Smooth Jazz CD104.3, Sportsradio 950 the Fan, KS1075 and Classic Country 16 Kicks. National WalkAmerica sponsors are CIGNA, Kmart, Fedex, Famous Footwear, Farmers Insurance Group, Discovery Health Channel and Prevention Magazine.

The March of Dimes is a national nonprofit health organization founded in 1938. In Colorado, the March of Dimes currently funds over $1 million in grants, plus operates its own healthy-baby programs. For more information, visit the March of Dimes at marchofdimes.com (English) and nacersano.org (Spanish).