FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:    Tim Arndt, Senior State Director

Communications and Marketing

(317) 262-4668 and tarndt@marchofdimes.com

March of Dimes reminds you that premature babies need hope, love, and you—to walk for someone you Love.

(Indianapolis, IN, April 25, 2006) – Indiana residents will take to the streets this weekend to support the March of Dimes fight to save premature babies by raising money and participating in WalkAmerica in one of 21 communities in Indiana. 

By raising money and walking, they will help to fund lifesaving research and innovative programs that helps save babies in their communities, in Indiana and in communities across the nation.

WalkAmerica events taking place this weekend:

Saturday, April 29th:

• Evansville WalkAmerica, Sunrise Park, 9:00am Check-in, 10:00am Start
• Fort Wayne WalkAmerica, Headwaters Park, 8:00am Check-in, 9:00am StartHuntington WalkAmerica, Heirs Park Family Living Center, 9:00am Check-in, 10:00am Start
• Kokomo WalkAmerica, Highland Park, 8:00am Check-in, 9:00am Start
• Lafayette WalkAmerica, Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 8:00am Check-in, 9:00am Start
• LaPorte WalkAmerica, Cummings Lodge, 8:00am Check-in, 9:00am Start
• Muncie WalkAmerica, YWCA Muncie, 9:00am Check-in, 10:00am Start
• Richmond WalkAmerica, Glen Miller Park Band Shell, 7:00am Check-in, 8:00am Start,
• Seymour WalkAmerica, Seymour High School Stadium, 9:00am Check-in, 10:00am Start
• St. Joseph County WalkAmerica, Coveleski Stadium, 8:00am Check-in, 9:00am Start
• Terre Haute WalkAmerica, ISU Memorial Stadium, 7:30am Check-in, 8:30am Start
• Washington WalkAmerica, Eastside City Park Kiwanis Cabin, 1:00pm Check-in, 2:00pm Start

Sunday, April 30th:

• Adams County WalkAmerica, Decatur Parks Riverside Center, 1pm check-in, 2pm start
• Angola WalkAmerica, Angola High School, 12pm check-in, 1pm start
• Columbus WalkAmerica, IUPUC Campus, 12:00pm Check-in, 1:00m Start
• Greenfield WalkAmerica, Greenfield Central H.S. Football Stadium, 1pm Check-in, 2pm Start
• Indianapolis WalkAmerica, IUPUI Track and Soccer Stadium, 9am check-in, 10am start
• Lake County WalkAmerica, Highland High School, 9am check-in, 10am Start
• Plainfield WalkAmerica, Hummel Park, 12:00pm Check-in, 1:30pm Start
• Porter County WalkAmerica, David A. Butterfield Pavilion, Valparaiso, 9am check-in, 10am start
• Princeton WalkAmerica, Princeton Courthouse, 1pm check-in, 2pm start

“There is still time to register as an individual walker or as a team,”  said Tim Arndt, Sr. State Director of Communications and Marketing.  “Call 1-800-BIG-WALK to register or visit www.walkamerica.org and register online.  People can also register on WalkAmerica day as well.  They should just come to the location and turn in the donations they've collected at Check-in. We hope everyone will raise money and take part in WalkAmerica and let themselves in on one of the finest feelings that there is—the feeling that you’re helping a tiny, defenseless baby win the struggle to survive. ”

The WalkAmerica routes vary in length but most are 6.2 miles or a 10-kilometer route. The routes wind through some of the most picturesque communities in Indiana and include food and water and entertainment stops along the way culminating in food and fun that is set up at the WalkAmerica finish line. “It’s a great family day together,” says Janie Sue Dubbs, State Director of Corporate Development and WalkAmerica for the March of Dimes.  “Many of our walkers have been walking for years and wouldn’t miss it. Some walk in memory or honor of a child they knew that was born too soon or too small who struggled against all odds to survive premature birth and many walk in memory of those babies who lost that fight."

WalkAmerica has raised funds over the last 36 years to fund the March of Dimes lifesaving research and innovative programs to find ways to prevent premature birth and other problems that jeopardize babies’ lives. To register for WalkAmerica in your community, call 1-800-BIG-WALK or visit www.walkamerica.org. 

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com/Indiana or its Spanish Web site at nacersano.org