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Brooke Duffy Wins Charlotte 500 Challenge!
12-May-10
Brooke Duffy of Williston, VT, is the winner of the 2010 Charlotte 500 Challenge. More than $146,000 was raised for March for Babies as walkers from 15 states each raised at least $200 during the two-week challenge. NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin is offering the winner a one-on-one driving experience on a track in Charlotte, NC.


Duffy gave birth to her second child on May 10, 2010. Ronan Leonard Duffy was born at Fletcher Allen Health Care Birthing Center in Burlington, VT, weighing 8 lbs. 14 oz. Duffy’s first child, Teegan, was born prematurely at 24 weeks in 2006. The Duffy’s Family Team, Teegan’s Trekkers, raised $808 for March for Babies this year while Brooke was on bed rest to ensure that Ronan was born full-term at 39 weeks.


Since Teegan’s birth, Duffy has been a staunch March of Dimes supporter. She currently serves as co-chair of the Family Advisory Committee for the NICU Family Support Program at Fletcher Allen Health Care. Along with participating in March for Babies since 2006, she also has organized the silent auction at the Signature Chef’s Auction for the past two years. Duffy was named the Vermont March of Dimes Volunteer of the Year in 2009.

Duffy Wins Ride-along with NASCAR Star Denny Hamlin 

Hamlin drove a special #11 FedEx Office/March for Babies Toyota in the “SUBWAY Fresh Fit 600™” at Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday, April 10, 2010, in effort to rev up the revenue for the March of Dimes and give every baby a healthy start in life.

“This is the third year in a row that I raced the March for Babies car at the Phoenix Raceway,” said Hamlin. “I want to do everything I can to help raise awareness for the amazing work the March of Dimes does so that more babies are born healthy.”

The #11 FedEx Office/March for Babies® Toyota was unveiled March 25, 2010 during a ceremony at Joe Gibbs Racing Inc. in Huntersville, N.C., on March 25, 2010. Hamlin and team owner Joe Gibbs were on hand to reveal the special paint scheme for the Phoenix Cup race.

During the race, Hamlin wore a helmet designed by Morgan, Preston and Chase Copeland. The triplets are the children of FedEx Office employee Alan Copeland and were born seven weeks premature in 2005. Today, their dad says, Morgan, Preston and Chase are healthy, active four-year-olds thanks to the March of Dimes-funded treatments and the medical care they received.

For the past six years, FedEx has been a national sponsor of the March for Babies, the March of Dimes annual event that raises funds to support research and other programs that improve the health of babies. March for Babies events happen in more than 900 communities all across the United States. Most occur the last weekend of April 24-25.

“FedEx and the March of Dimes have a long history of working together to save babies,” says Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, President of the March of Dimes.  “FedEx and Denny will always be champions for babies for helping to fund cutting-edge research and community-based programs that help families have full-term, healthy babies.”

Thousands of FedEx employees and their families also will participate in the 2010 March for Babies. Last year, FedEx, and all of its operating companies, raised over $1.4 million.

“FedEx is proud to share with March of Dimes a commitment to on-time, healthy deliveries,” said Laurie Tucker, FedEx senior vice president of FedEx Corporate Marketing.  “Over the years, March of Dimes has helped thousands, including many FedEx employees, who have had premature babies or have been connected to someone who has.  We are pleased to support the March of Dimes in their mission to reduce the number of premature births.”

FedEx provides corporate funding and employee volunteerism for several initiatives that help increase resources needed for education and lifesaving research related to preterm birth.  In addition to the company's sponsorship of March for Babies, FedEx also provides financial support and free shipping for the March of Dimes national campaign to prevent premature births.

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $33 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 280,000 team members to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit news.fedex.com

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health.  With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies®, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. To join an event near you, visit marchforbabies.org. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.