Salem Is Lacing Up-Here's Why

www.marchforbabies.or

(Salem, Oregon) - Approximately 400 people young and old will lace up their walking shoes in Salem on April 30th giving hope that every baby will have a healthy start. They're walking and raising money to support March of Dimes funded research and programs to help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies.

Here's why:

• In an average week in Oregon, 944 babies are born and 95 (10.0%) of them are preterm - that's 2.5% higher than the Healthy People 2010 goal of 7.6%.
• About 1 in 5 women of childbearing age in Oregon has no health insurance coverage, and the numbers are growing. Health care access before and during pregnancy can help identify and manage conditions that contribute to premature birth.
• 21.3% of women of childbearing age in Oregon smoke. Smoking cessation programs can reduce the risk of premature birth.
• Prematurity is the leading cause of newborn death and can result in lifelong complications such as vision and hearing problems and neurological disabilities.
• March of Dimes is dedicated to improving the health of all babies by preventing birth defects, prematurity and infant mortality. One day, all babies will be born healthy - but we need your help to get there!

Mark Your Calendar for the Salem March for Babies

When: Saturday, April 30^th at 9:00 AM

Where: Salem Hospital Campus

How: Sign up to walk and fundraise at www.marchforbabies.org.

Funds raised by March for Babies in Oregon and SW Washington help support prenatal wellness programs, research grants, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) family support programs and advocacy efforts for stronger, healthier babies.

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. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find out what's going on in the Greater Oregon Chapter by visiting OregonMOD.com.

March for Babies is sponsored nationally by the March of Dimes number one corporate supporter Kmart, Farmers Insurance Group, Bayer HealthCare, CIGNA, Famous Footwear, FedEx, Sanofi Pasteur, United Airlines, First Response, and Mission Pharmacal. Locally March for Babies is sponsored by KeyBank, PacificSource Health Plans, Salem Health, Abbot Nutrition, Grove Muller and Swank PC, Key Bank, Farmers Insurance, US Bank, and Grand Hotel.

News Release from: March of Dimes