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Health & Fitness

Hundreds to Walk for Stronger, Healthier Babies in New Haven

On Sunday, April 27 at Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven, 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 bounce houses, carousel rides, refreshments, face painting, dance performances, music and more.  The walk will be emceed by Mike Perez of KC101.

Leading the festivities will be the event’s Ambassadors, Nicole Barbarotta and her 10-year old son, Tate. They will share the story of his premature birth, his incredible story of survival, and thank walkers for their commitment to the March of Dimes mission to give all babies a healthy start.  Tate was born nearly 14 weeks too soon and weighed just 1 lb. 15.5 oz.  He spent 132 days in a neonatal intensive care unit before coming home. 

Today Tate is an active elementary school student who loves sports, riding his bike, spending time with friends and family and playing guitars and drums. “He is the most thoughtful, caring boy,” said Nicole.  “He wants to give back and even organized a fundraiser at his school this year to help reach his $5,000 goal for the March of Dimes.”
 
“This experience was the scariest time in my life and it’s hard to even put the emotions into words,” continued Nicole.  “When we found the March of Dimes, we made a commitment to them to help, so that no other family has to go through what we did.”

Lighthouse Point Park is located at 2 Lighthouse Point Road in New Haven. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the event at 10 a.m.  To register visit marchforbabies.org/event/newhaven. Participants can also register on-site on April 27.  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.   

New Haven March for Babies is presented by Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital, and sponsored by Yale School of Medicine’s Department of OB-GYN & Reproductive Sciences, NBC Connecticut, Comcast, Clear Channel Radio, Connecticut Parent Magazine and Lamar.  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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