MARCH OF DIMES WALKAMERICA WILL BE HELD TODAY

Over 200 people comprised of 30-to-35-member teams of individuals and businesses, are expected to walk today for the March of Dimes WalkAmerica.

The walk begins at 10 a.m. with registration at 9 a.m. at Capaha Park.

Matt Hopkins, division director for the Southeast Missouri March of Dimes office, said each team will walk for a prepaid donation to the March of Dimes.

Funds raised from the event will benefit research, education, advocacy, and community service areas of the organization. Hopkins said the national goal of the March of Dimes is to promote healthier babies by lowering birth defects and infant mortality rates.

Hopkins said the infant mortality rate in parts of Southeast Missouri is staggering. "The rates in the Bootheel are higher than some third-world countries and they double the national rate," he said.

Hopkins said that through research and education the March of Dimes helps reduce birth defects and helps produce healthier infants. "Recently the FDA approved the addition of folic acid to pasta products. It was discovered through research that folic acid helps reduce the incidence of spina bifida."

The organization donates millions of dollars for funding research each year.

Through educational programs such as the March of Dimes sponsored "Baby and You" workshops, employees of companies are learning how to have healthy babies. The program, coordinated by LaDonna Wells, a nurse at Southeast Missouri Hospital, teaches proper nutrition, exercise, and baby care. The program promotes no smoking during pregnancy and back sleeping for babies to help prevent the incidence of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

Hopkins said childbirth expenses are the single largest cost in many employee health-care plans. A normal pregnancy and delivery costs $4,000, while hospital costs for a premature or unhealthy baby range from $12,000 to $50,000.

He said the March of Dimes advocates fetal testing for birth defects that may lead to fetal surgery and the saving of an unborn child's life. Hopkins said promoting programs that may save a baby's life is the most important job of the March of Dimes.

"Babies are the most important resource to our country and our future," he said.