LOS ANGELES, MARCH 29, 2007 -- Tom Bergeron (left), host of ABC-TV's hit show, Dancing with the Stars, took his “show on the road” today with a satellite media tour (SMT) to help raise awareness of the growing crisis of premature birth and kick off the upcoming March of Dimes WalkAmerica. A dedicated, long-time national volunteer for the March of Dimes, Tom serves as the 2007 national WalkAmerica spokesperson and leads his own "Team Tom" for the event. Tom was joined in the SMT by 8-year-old Ezekiel “Zeek” Taylor (center), March of Dimes 2007 National Ambassador, and Zeek's mom Betty (right). Zeek was born 14 weeks early, weighing only 1 pound, 14 ounces. His story represents just one of the more than a half million babies born preterm each year in the United States.
With more than one million walkers and volunteers, March of Dimes WalkAmerica will take place in most communities the last weekend in April. Approximately 20,000 teams will participate in WalkAmerica nationwide, drawn from corporations, unions, schools, clubs, families and other organizations. WalkAmerica has raised more than $1.7 billion for the health of America's babies since it began in 1970. The funds collected support March of Dimes programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy.
To join "Team Tom" and be part of Tom Bergeron's effort to give every baby a healthy start in life, go to www.walkamerica.org/teamtom and register to participate in WalkAmerica or make a donation. Anyone who donates or raises $100 or more online as part of “Team Tom” by May 31, 2007 will receive a 10 percent off coupon for Dancing with the Stars fan gear from SeenON.com in June.
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