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Community Corner

Hundreds to Walk for Stronger, Healthier Babies at Olde Mistick Village

On Sunday, May 4 at Olde Mistick Village in Mystic, 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. Funds raised help support prenatal wellness programs, research grants, neonatal intensive care unit family support programs and advocacy efforts for stronger, healthier babies. 

Families will enjoy live entertainment by Steve Elci & Friends, breakfast and snacks, face painting, a bounce house, touch-a-truck, and more.  The event is chaired by David Preka, owner of Advanced Improvements, a full-service General Contractor located in Mystic.

Leading the festivities will be the event’s Ambassadors, Ryan and Jessica Spearrin of Deep River, along with their children Carley and William. They will share the story of William’s premature birth, and thank walkers for their commitment to the March of Dimes mission to give all babies a healthy start.  William was born nearly 10 weeks too soon and weighed just 2 lbs. 11 oz.  He spent 64 days in neonatal intensive care unit before coming home.

“We hope that by sharing our story we will raise awareness about prematurity and other serious complications that mothers and babies can face,” said Jessica.  “We know that without March of Dimes funded research, William would not be here today.  And we know that there much work left to be done.  Our biggest wish is for all babies to be born healthy.”

Olde Mistick Village is located at 27 Coogan Blvd. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the event at 10 a.m.  To register visit marchforbabies.org/event/greatermystic. Participants can also register on-site on May 4.  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.   

Greater Mystic March for Babies is sponsored by Olde Mistick Village, Mohegan Sun, Bob’s Discount Furniture, CCR Wealth Management, Pfizer, Dominion Resources, The Day, Soft Rock 106.5 WBMW, Jammin 107.7, 94.9 News Now, and Kidtivity, and statewide sponsors NBC Connecticut and Comcast.  March for Babies is sponsored nationally by the March of Dimes number one corporate supporter Kmart, Macy’s, Famous Footwear, Cigna, Sanofi Pasteur, Mission Pharmacal, and United Airlines.

For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines and breakthroughs.  Find out how you can help raise funds to prevent premature birth and birth defects by walking in March for Babies at marchforbabies.org. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.  Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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