LIHU‘E — The 2013 March for Babies will be held on March 23 at Lydgate Park with registration starting at 6:45 a.m. The announcement was made during the presentation of a mayoral proclamation Friday, which announced the date as “March
LIHU‘E — The 2013 March for Babies will be held on March 23 at Lydgate Park with registration starting at 6:45 a.m.
The announcement was made during the presentation of a mayoral proclamation Friday, which announced the date as “March of Dimes March for Babies Day” to a group of organizers, including event coordinator Molly McGrath at the Mo‘ikeha Building.
This year marks a special March of Dimes anniversary of 75 years of lifesaving breakthroughs, states the March of Dimes website.
The proclamation states one of eight babies in the United States, and one of seven babies in Hawai‘i, are born prematurely. More than half are due to unknown causes.
This incidence of premature birth, the leading cause of infant death, has risen 29 percent since 1981.
Premature babies who survive often suffer from long-term consequences, including chronic health conditions or developmental disabilities.
People participating in the March for Babies are among more than seven million people in more than 900 communities across the nation who give hope to the babies who are born too soon.
Funds raised supports programs that help mothers have healthy, full-term pregnancies. It also helps fund research to find answers to the problems that threaten babies.
Because premature birth is a common, serious and costly problem, which affects nearly everyone, the March of Dimes has made research into why premature birth takes place and what can be done to prevent it a top priority.
Rhextyn Butay, Kaua‘i’s Ambassador Baby, was more concerned about enjoying the warm Friday sunshine, taking time to get better acquainted with Mayor Bernard Carvalho while the group discussed the upcoming walk.
“We’ll be meeting on March 21 at Rob’s Good Time Grill where team captains are able to turn in the pledges and funds collected ahead of the walk,” said Cheryl Ann Farrell, a March of Dimes board member. “We’ve always hosted the pre-walk event two days ahead of the walk. But people are also able to show up on March 23 to turn in their support.”
Farrell said online registration is available by visiting www.marchforbabies.org, but each year, there are people who turn out on walk day with their collections.
The March for Babies, first held in 1970, has raised more than $1 billion to support the cutting-edge research and programs that have helped babies get a healthy start.
Visit www.marchforbabies.org for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
