“I am proud that Newberry residents joined together to support the health of babies,” said Jimmie Coggins, 2008 March for Babies Emcee. “The efforts made and money raised by the people of Newberry this year will help the March of Dimes continue working so that one day every baby will have a healthy start in life and every family will know the joy of having a healthy baby.”

 Premature birth touches half a million babies and their families every year including 168 babies in an average week in South Carolina Babies born too soon are more likely to die or have disabilities.  More than 120,000 babies are born with serious birth defects that can mean a lifetime of disability. The March of Dimes is working for these babies and for healthy babies—advocating for newborn screening and access to healthcare.

 Funds raised by Newberry’s March for Babies event support research, and grants that will be awarded to programs that improve infant and maternal health in South Carolina.

 On Saturday morning the event started at the Town Square with opening ceremonies led by Jimmie Coggins of WKDK radio. Members of the Curves Team led warm up exercises for the crowd. After the 4-mile route through the heart of downtown Newberry, participants returned for refreshments provided by Food Lion on Kendall Road and by Dominoes Pizza of Prosperity. Children were entertained by Storytellers Sue and Henry Summer.

 Awards went to:

 McKechnie Vehicle Components for Top Fundraising Team in the Employers with Less than 500 Employees category. McKechnie Vehicle Components raised $2,106.50.  Team Captain Lisa Sligh accepted the award.

 Louis Rich was the number one team in the Employers with More than 500 Employees category.  To date Louis Rich has raised more than $13,500. The team has several more March of Dimes fundraising activities planned in the coming months.  The top individual fundraisers were also from the Louis Rich team, but final totals will not be available until their campaign is completed.  Wanda Shealey accepted the team’s fundraising award, and LaFaith Lane-Pitts received Team Captain of the Year Award.

 Top School Honors went to Newberry Academy, led by Laurie Suber. The team raised $2,129. Marina Miller of Newberry Academy was the top youth fundraiser for the event. Marina raised $1,105.20. Reuben Elementary School, led by Candice Lominick, received the Second Place School honors. The team raised $989.

 Event Sponsors include Louis Rich, Kiswire, Newberry County Memorial Hospital, and Dr. William Edwards, Food Lion on Kendall Road, Dominoes Pizza of Prosperity, and WKDK radio.

 South Carolina Multi-site Sponsors:  Wachovia, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Carolina First Bank, Founders Federal Credit Union.

 Last year, the South Carolina March of Dimes invested more than $4.2 million in program services, including research grants and local community services.  Through these grants, the March of Dimes is seeking ways to prevent birth defects and infant death, reduce South Carolina’s increasing premature birth rate, increase access to prenatal care and educate men and women about having healthy babies.

 In 2008, national March for Babies sponsors are CIGNA, Continental Airlines, Famous Footwear, Farmers, FedEx, Grain Foods Foundation, Liberty Tax Services, nesting.com, and Kmart, the March of Dimes number one corporate partner which has raised more than $63 million for babies.  Additional national sponsorship is provided by Discovery Health, Mead Johnson Nutritionals, Outdoor Services and Ther-Rx.