MOUNT GREENWOOD — Saint Xavier University will again host the March for Babies Walk at 8 a.m. Sunday on its main campus in Mount Greenwood.
More than 1,000 participants are expected at the 5K walk at 3700 W. 103rd St. Organizers hope the family-oriented walk will raise $300,000 for the March of Dimes.
The charity is dedicated to supporting programs and research aimed at improving expectant mothers' chances of a healthy, full-term pregnancy. The March of Dimes benefits from similar walks throughout the country. In fact, more than 3 million people in more than 500 communities participate in the March for Babies.
For the second year, Saint Xavier will host the first such fundraiser of the year. Last year, the university on the Far Southwest Side had more than 900 walkers and raised some $271,000. And in Illinois alone, there are nearly 20 such walks annually with approximately 20,000 participants.
“The March for Babies event held at Saint Xavier is a wonderful opportunity for our students and employees to become more familiar with the critical work of the March of Dimes,” said John Pelrine, Saint Xavier's vice president for student affairs.
Proceeds from the walk fund community programs, advocacy efforts and research to help prevent premature birth, birth defects and infant mortality. Parents and children have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines and breakthroughs since 1938.
For more information about volunteering or participating in the March for Babies at Saint Xavier, visit the event’s website.
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