Health & Fitness
Hundreds Will March for Stronger, Healthier Babies in Fairfield
Hundreds Will March for Stronger, Healthier Babies in Fairfield Annual March for Babies Scheduled for Sunday, May 5
On Sunday, May 5 at Jennings Beach in Fairfield, hundreds of families and business leaders will join together to March for Babies—the March of Dimes walk honoring babies born healthy and those who need help to survive and thrive. Presented by Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital, funds raised help support prenatal wellness programs, research grants, neonatal intensive care unit family support programs and advocacy efforts for stronger, healthier babies.
Helping to lead the festivities will be 2013 Ambassadors, the Primavera family of Ridgefield, who in 2005 experienced the premature birth of their triplets, Shivali, Avnish, and Keshavan. Born 14 weeks too soon due to Karina developing preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy), the babies’ combined weight was just 4.5 lbs. Shivali did not survive due to complications from her premature birth, and the boys spent 14 and 19 weeks respectively in neonatal intensive care until they were able to come home.
“Our babies were born so early, and they were so tiny. They had an uphill battle, and, unfortunately, our daughter did not survive,” said Karina. “We’ve experienced the heartbreak of losing a baby. We also know what it’s like to have a baby battling for months in the NICU. Nothing can prepare you for the experience. It’s important for us to do whatever we can to help support the cause for babies to be born healthy – and, for those who are not, that they have the best chance at getting well and living healthy, happy lives.”
Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the event at 10 a.m. Participants will enjoy zumba, light refreshments, and children’s activities. To register visit marchforbabies.org or marchofdimes.com/ct. All walkers who raise $200 or more will receive an event t-shirt and those raising $350 or more will have the choice of a Macy’s or Kmart gift card.
The March of Dimes celebrates its 75th anniversary this year and its ongoing work to help all babies get a healthy start in life. More than 4 million babies were born in the United States last year, and the March of Dimes has helped each and every one through research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs.
Fairfield March for Babies is presented by Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital, sponsored by Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut, Star 99.9, Lamar, Kidtivity, and supported by statewide sponsors, NBC Connecticut and Comcast. March for Babies is sponsored nationally by the March of Dimes number one corporate supporter Kmart, Farmers Insurance Group, Macy’s, Cigna, Sanofi Pasteur, Famous Footwear, Actavis, Mission Pharmacal, and United Airlines.
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
