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Walk helps cause
The 33rd annual March of Dimes Walk America takes place around the country Saturday. St. Cloud is partaking in this event as well, with St. Cloud State University being used as the starting point. Various organizations and private donors will be raising money to help research to prevent birth defects, with the final goal being $80,000.
St. Cloud students are part of the fundraising process. Jenny Pollard, a second-year SCSU student and member of the Phi Epsilon Alpha sorority said, "It's researching prevention of birth defects and premature birth. That's where the money is going," Pollard said, in addition to research. Services are given to mothers on a one-on-one basis. Also, mothers get education about premature birth and how to prevent it. Pollard also went on to say that her sorority raised over $1,000 at last year's walk, and that their goal for this year was $2,000.
Phi Epsilon Alpha also had a kiosk in Atwood Center regarding the event, and the feedback was positive. "We had a lot of support from professors and students that were walking through," Pollard said. The sorority has a tradition of philanthropy, and they have been involved with this event for the past several years.
The March of Dimes Walk America is an event not just for individuals in the community, but for organizations as well. "We have about 20 different businesses that are sponsoring the walk in different ways, whether monetarily through sponsorship or through donating items," said Director Sue Parent.
The money raised from the March of Dimes walk goes towards research and education. According to the March of Dimes Web site, the Walk America is the biggest fundraising event that the organization does. Kmart, CIGNA and the GUM brand of oral health care products are the biggest corporate sponsors this year. But in the end, the event boils down to the individual donations. "Our donors are very generous," Parent said. One can also donate time by raising funds, like the Phi Epsilon Alpha sorority did.
Medical facilities benefit from this event as well, because the money can pay for education and staff development. "In our fall event here in St. Cloud, we are bringing in a leading perinatologist to talk to doctors and staff about the latest care for premature babies," Parent said.
The walk starts at 8 a.m. Saturday morning at Halenbeck Hall. The route takes the Beaver Trail and runs for about five to six miles. In case of rain, the event will proceed as planned. If donations haven't been made before the walk takes place, they can be brought to the walk. To make a donation, or for more information on the event, please call the March of Dimes Central Division Office at 320-252-1156. Online, at the Walk America Web site (www.walkamerica.org), it is possible to both register and sign up a team. The Web site goes on to say that over half a million people take part in the event every year.
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