The eight-mile walk will begin at 9am near the tennis bubble and will feature checkpoints sponsored by local companies and shuttle bus stops along the route.  After the walk, participants will enjoy a live band and free lunch.  Pet Supplies Plus is on board this year to provide goodies for dogs and will set up a mini dog park.  Other confirmed sponsors are Fifth Third Bank, Standard Federal Bank, Charter One Bank, EDS, Kmart and Kelly Services.  Families, babies, school groups, companies, churches and dogs are welcome to attend. 

The statewide honorary chair for Michigan’s WalkAmerica is UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. 

Honorary chair for the Troy location is Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson.  Under his leadership, the event raised more than $400,000 for premature babies in 2003.  This year, the goal has been set at $450,000. 

Proceeds raised by WalkAmerica help the March of Dimes save babies through programs of research, community service, advocacy and education.  In 2003, the March of Dimes launched a five-year, $75 million national campaign to educate women to the signs and symptoms of preterm labor, raise funds to conduct needed research, and reduce the rate of premature birth by 15 percent by 2007. 

National WalkAmerica sponsors are Cigna, Discovery Health Channel, Famous Footwear and Kmart.  Comcast is a statewide sponsor of WalkAmerica in Michigan.  Local sponsors include WJR, WDVD, WDRQ, Pepsi and The Detroit Free Press.

Those interested in participating in WalkAmerica and joining thousands of Michigan residents to save babies can register by calling 1-800-BIG-WALK or visiting 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 and infant mortality.  Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies.  More information is available on the March of Dimes websites at www.marchofdimes.com and www.nacersano.org.