Registration for March of Dimes WalkAmerica will begin at 8:00 a.m. and the walk itself at 9:00 a.m. on November 8. Participants are invited to walk a six-mile route, which equals about twelve laps around the inside of the mall. Refreshment booths and a finish line TGIF (Thank Goodness I Finished) celebration are included.

WalkAmerica teams may be assembled by families, companies or groups of friends with a team goal of raising at least $500. Team fundraising could include pledge donations, selling of bean bag babies, holding a “blue jeans for babies” day at work, coin collection canisters, or just about any other fun event to raise the funds (the March of Dimes can help with additional ideas). Also, a few WalkAmerica corporate sponsorship opportunities remain at $350 or less.

In January of this year, the March of Dimes launched a 5-year $75 Million Prematurity Campaign.  The rate of preterm birth has risen 19% in Washington over the last decade.  Currently, 1 out of every 8 babies is born too soon and too small. The financial, emotional and physical consequences of prematurity can be lifelong for the babies and their families. 

In hopes of reducing high prematurity rates in Grays Harbor County, March of Dimes has  recently awarded a $20,620 Community Grant to Grays Harbor County Public Health and Social Services to expand childbirth education classes, especially to low income and Spanish speaking families.

For more information or to register for the rally and WalkAmerica, please contact Susan McAbee at 1-800-231-5245 or at smcabee@marchofdimes.com.