Hickory, North Carolina, February 01, 2013 —

 Local business leaders are working with the March of Dimes to prevent preterm birth to give more babies a healthy start in life.

Today we are pleased to announce Hickory business leaders Anita Montes, MD, Laura Faruque, MD and Claire Harraghy, MD all of A Woman’s View are co-chairing the annual March for Babies campaign and walk in the Unifour.

 March for Babies is the largest annual fundraising event for the March of Dimes, which will celebrate its 75^th anniversary in 2013. More than 4 million babies are born in the United States each year and the March of Dimes has helped each and every one of them through research, education, vaccines and breakthroughs.

As co-chairs, Montes, Faruque and Harraghy will play an integral role in raising awareness and funds to advance the scientific research and educational programs at the core of the March of Dimes efforts to prevent preterm birth and birth defects.  They are excited and honored to be involved in the Foundation’s milestone 75^th year and are encouraging people who have been involved before to Beat Their Best fundraising year in celebration of the 75^th Anniversary. New teams and walkers are encouraged to get involved as well! The entire community is invited to the Kickoff Luncheon at Gateway Hotel and Conference Center Tuesday, February 19^th at 12:15pm. People can also register to participate at marchforbabies.org.

 “My work with the March of Dimes is a real honor – especially during the Foundation’s milestone 75^th anniversary year. March for Babies gives everyone in our community the chance to work together for stronger, healthier babies and make a difference in the lives of millions of babies,” said Montes. “I can’t think of a more important cause than healthy babies. As a business leader, I know that preventing preterm birth can help our bottom line by lowering health care costs.”

Harraghy added, “Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death.  In the Unifour counties (Alexander, Burke, Caldwell & Catawba) one in eight babies is born premature, and that’s just not acceptable. It takes leaders in our community working together to ensure moms have healthy pregnancies.”

Last year, the Unifour Counties March for Babies raised more than $150,000. With a goal of more than $165,000 this year, Catawba Valley Medical Center, Pepsi Bottling Company, GDS Republic Services and other area companies and organizations have already committed to helping that goal become a reality.

This year’s walk will be held at L.P. Frans Stadium on April 27^th. Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. To learn more or to RSVP for the February 19^th Kickoff Luncheon call 828-464-8905 or visit marchforbabies.org.  

In 2013, the March of Dimes celebrates its 75th Anniversary and its ongoing work to help babies get a healthy start in life.  Early research led to the Salk and Sabin polio vaccines that all babies still receive.  Other breakthroughs include new treatments for premature infants and children with birth defects.  About 4 million babies are born each year in the United States, and all have benefitted from March of Dimes lifesaving research and education.

The 2013 March for Babies is sponsored nationally by the March of Dimes number one corporate supporter Kmart, Farmers Insurance Group, Macy’s, Cigna, Sanofi Pasteur, Famous Footwear, Actavis, Mission Pharmacal, and United Airlines.