On Sunday, April 29 at its new location at Olde Mistick
Village in Mystic, hundreds of families and business leaders will join together to March for Babies—the March of Dimes walk fundraiser 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.
“I am honored to be the chair person for the Greater Mystic March for Babies, and I look forward to being joined by hundreds of fellow supporters,” said Mia Byrnes, chair of Greater Mystic March for Babies and Director of Operations for Cornerstone Restaurant Group. “So many organizations are in need of support and being able to assist with the March of Dimes has been a joy!”
Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with the walk kicking off at 8:30 a.m. Participants will enjoy live music from the Sue Menhart Band, food from Panera Catering of Groton, bounce houses and “Touch Tanks” from Mystic Aquarium, face painting, giveaways and more. To register visit marchforbabies.org or marchofdimes.com/ct. 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.
Helping lead the festivities will be the Saylor family of Quaker Hill. In 2008, Erin and Bryan were eagerly awaiting the arrival of their twins, Alexander and Hannah, when they unexpectedly delivered four months too soon. The babies were too small to survive. In April 2010, the
family celebrated the birth of daughter Addison, who was also born premature. Born seven weeks early and weighing less than five pounds, she spent over two weeks receiving neonatal intensive care at UConn Health Center.
“The March of Dimes has been a part of my family’s life since my older brother was born at 30 weeks 34 years ago,” said Erin. “My mom was in awe of the advances in neonatal care when she supported us through Addie’s NICU
stay. And March of Dimes continues to be relevant to our lives as I am pregnant with our fourth child due on June 25.”
Mystic March for Babies is sponsored by Mohegan Sun, Bob’s Discount Furniture, Dominion Resources, Soft Rock 106.5 WBMW and Jammin 107.7. Statewide sponsors are NBC Connecticut and Comcast. March for Babies is sponsored nationally by Kmart, Farmers Insurance Group, Cigna, Famous Footwear, Sanofi Pasteur, FedEx, Mission Pharmacal, Watson Pharmaceuticals, First Response, and
United Airlines.
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant
mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
