Call for Teams, Sponsors for 2018 Northwest Georgia Mountains March for Babies Campaign
CALL FOR TEAMS, SPONSORS FOR 2018 NORTHWEST GEORGIA MOUNTAINS MARCH FOR BABIES CAMPAIGN
Cartersville, GA; February 7, 2018: Georgia Highlands College – Cartersville Campus will host the 2018 Northwest Georgia Mountains March of Dimes “March for Babies” campaign kickoff on Tuesday, February 13 from noon until 1 p.m. The kickoff is a casual, informative luncheon open to anyone in the Northwest Georgia area (including Bartow, Floyd, Gordon, Paulding and Polk counties) who would like to support the March of Dimes by recruiting a team and serving as that team’s captain. This year’s March for Babies, presented by Surya, is scheduled for Friday, May 4 at Dellinger Park.
Premature birth is the leading cause of death during the first month of life. Funds raised from the 2018 campaign will help improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Though commonly associated with babies who are born prematurely, the March of Dimes actually impacts the health of every baby born in the United States, through discovery of the benefits of taking folic acid during pregnancy, educating pregnant women about the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy (fetal alcohol syndrome) and through development of the PKU (heel prick) test for all newborns, which screens for up to 32 different metabolic diseases.
According to the March of Dimes, a baby born even a week or two early can have serious long term health problems. Cartersville Medical Center supports the March of Dimes 39+ Weeks Campaign and was recognized in 2015 for its efforts by the Georgia Department of Public Health in partnership with the March of Dimes Georgia Chapter and Georgia Hospital Association. “We’re proud to support an organization whose mission is for every baby to have a healthy start,” said Kelly Costner, RN, director of perinatal services at Cartersville Medical Center. “We encourage area businesses and individuals to form teams and join us at the 2018 March for Babies in May.”
Featured at this year’s kickoff will be the 2018 Northwest Georgia Mountains March of Dimes Ambassador, Riley Duncan, daughter of Brandon and Kristi Duncan. Riley experienced life threatening complications as an infant and benefited from resources made possible by the March of Dimes. She is now 18 months old.
In addition to lunch, the kickoff will include information, assistance with team captain registration and door prizes. Top 2017 teams and sponsors will be recognized during a brief awards ceremony.
In addition to the need for teams, area businesses are encouraged to consider corporate sponsorship of the 2018 March for Babies. Current local sponsors include Surya, Cartersville Medical Center, Georgia Bone & Joint Surgeons, Georgia Power – Plant Bowen, Citizens of Georgia Power, Harbin Clinic Pediatrics and Cartersville Elks Lodge #1969. National and regional sponsors include HCA, Cigna, Famous Footwear, K Mart, Macy’s, Pampers and Publix.
For more information about the kickoff, team registration or corporate sponsorship, contact Abby Hooper, 2018 chair, at (770)548-5517 or ahooper@georgiabonepc.com or Kirby Lewis-Hobba, March of Dimes Development Manager, at (678)564-5240 or KLewis-Hobba@marchofdimes.org. Or visit www.marchforbabies.org, enter your ZIP code and then view details on the Northwest Georgia Mountains March for Babies event.
About March of Dimes
The 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. In 2013, the March of Dimes celebrated its 75th Anniversary and its ongoing work to help babies get a healthy start in life. Early research led to the Salk and Sabin polio vaccines that all babies still receive. Other breakthroughs include new treatments for premature infants and children with birth defects. About 4 million babies are born each year in the United States, and all have benefitted from March of Dimes lifesaving research and education.
For the latest resources and information visit www.marchofdimes.com. To become involved visit www.marchforbabies.org.
About Cartersville Medical Center
Cartersville Medical Center is a 119-bed acute care hospital, Chest Pain Center, Certified Primary Stroke Center, Certified Total Joint program and Gold Seal Inpatient Diabetes program facility accredited by the Joint Commission. The Breast Imaging Center of Excellence at The Women’s Center provides mammography services that are gold seal accredited by the American College of Radiology. The Advanced Wound Healing Center provides specialized treatment for chronic or non-healing wounds. The Hope Center, a regional, Commission on Cancer approved cancer treatment facility, is conveniently located on the hospital campus and provides over 4,000 treatments with over 300 new patients per year from a ten county region.
For more information about programs and services offered at Cartersville Medical Center or The Hope Center, call MedLine at (800) 242-5662 or visit www.cartersvillemedical.com.
