DENVER, Colo., March 31, 2005-The community is invited to help fight prematurity and other infant-health problems by participating in the upcoming March of Dimes WalkAmerica, the organization said today. Event sign-up forms are now available at all area Famous Footwear, Foley's, King Soopers, Kmart, Loaf 'N Jug and TCF Bank locations. People can also register online at walkamerica.org or by calling the March of Dimes at (303) 692-0011.

WalkAmerica is slated for Saturday, April 30 at Civic Center Park and throughout downtown. A minimum $25 donation per walker is suggested. Prizes (including sports apparel, store gift cards and airline tickets) are available to those who collect $200 or more.

WalkAmerica event planners have a goal of raising $1.4 million in Colorado this year. Funds raised help the March of Dimes 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.

Celebrating its 35th 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, seven other Colorado communities host WalkAmerica events. These include Boulder, Larimer County, Greeley, Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Grand Junction.

WalkAmerica state sponsors are Loaf 'N Jug and Farmers Insurance Group. Local sponsors are CIGNA HealthCare, The Children's Hospital, KDVR 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 approximately $1.4 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).