Moultrie Tech Makes Strides for Premature Birth Awareness
Kicking of the 2005 WalkAmerica fundraising event at the Colquitt County Arts Center on April 23 rd, members of the Moultrie Technical College [MTC] faculty, staff and student body gear up for their three and a half-mile walk to promote premature birth awareness for the March of Dimes. MTC raised almost $4,000 of the total raised for Colquitt County’s annual event.
With support from Moultrie Technical College’s student organizations Phi Beta Lambda and Delta Epsilon Chi, Colquitt Countians from all walks of life laced up their athletic shoes in April for WalkAmerica 2005 and raised a collective $11,000 in support of the March of Dimes.
The annual fundraiser supports research, education, community programs and advocacy to help prevent premature birth, a leading cause of newborn death and a major cause of lifelong disabilities. Volunteers, who were asked to walk for someone they love, enthusiastically participated in teams, with their families and as individuals.
Premature birth is a serious problem that has increased 29 percent since 1981, affecting more than 470,000 babies every year, or one out of every eight. It takes a tremendous
financial, emotional and physical toll on babies and their families, and in more than half the cases, happens for unknown causes.
“I am proud that Moultrie is one of more than a thousand communities across the nation where caring people walked together to save babies from premature birth,” said Dr. Hugh Lofton, WalkAmerica Chair and Moultrie Technical College instructor.
“I know we can make an enormous difference in the fight to find out why premature birth happens and what can be done to prevent it. Over the past 67 years, the March of Dimes has saved millions of babies from death and disability, and the money we raised this year will go to saving countless more.
It is because of people like these who are willing to give their time, talent and money that one day no baby will be born too soon and all babies will be born healthy. With the commitment of the March of Dimes and the legions of dedicated volunteers, that day just got a little closer,” Lofton said.
In 2005, the national sponsors for WalkAmerica are CIGNA, Discovery Health Channel, Famous Footwear, Farmers Insurance, FedEx, Kmart, Mead Johnson Nutritionals and Prevention Magazine.
“We’re proud here in Colquitt County to also have Wal-Mart, Colquitt Regional Medical Center, National Beef, Stringfellow Elementary School, Bank of America and the Women’s Federated Club of Moultrie as sponsors,” Lofton said.
The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality.
Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies, and in 2003 launched a five-year campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth.
For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish Web site at nacersano.org.
Media Release- May 10, 2005
Contact: Jana Wiggins, Moultrie Technical College, Director of Marketing
(229) 217-4139 or (229) 891-7000
Dr. Hugh Lofton, MTC Phi Beta Lambda advisor
(229) 217-4199
Email: jwiggins@moultrietech.edu or hlofton@moultrietech.edu
Kicking of the 2005 WalkAmerica fundraising event at the Colquitt County Arts Center on April 23 rd, members of the Moultrie Technical College [MTC] faculty, staff and student body gear up for their three and a half-mile walk to promote premature birth awareness for the March of Dimes. MTC raised almost $4,000 of the total raised for Colquitt County’s annual event.
With support from Moultrie Technical College’s student organizations Phi Beta Lambda and Delta Epsilon Chi, Colquitt Countians from all walks of life laced up their athletic shoes in April for WalkAmerica 2005 and raised a collective $11,000 in support of the March of Dimes.
The annual fundraiser supports research, education, community programs and advocacy to help prevent premature birth, a leading cause of newborn death and a major cause of lifelong disabilities. Volunteers, who were asked to walk for someone they love, enthusiastically participated in teams, with their families and as individuals.
Premature birth is a serious problem that has increased 29 percent since 1981, affecting more than 470,000 babies every year, or one out of every eight. It takes a tremendous
financial, emotional and physical toll on babies and their families, and in more than half the cases, happens for unknown causes.
“I am proud that Moultrie is one of more than a thousand communities across the nation where caring people walked together to save babies from premature birth,” said Dr. Hugh Lofton, WalkAmerica Chair and Moultrie Technical College instructor.
“I know we can make an enormous difference in the fight to find out why premature birth happens and what can be done to prevent it. Over the past 67 years, the March of Dimes has saved millions of babies from death and disability, and the money we raised this year will go to saving countless more.
It is because of people like these who are willing to give their time, talent and money that one day no baby will be born too soon and all babies will be born healthy. With the commitment of the March of Dimes and the legions of dedicated volunteers, that day just got a little closer,” Lofton said.
In 2005, the national sponsors for WalkAmerica are CIGNA, Discovery Health Channel, Famous Footwear, Farmers Insurance, FedEx, Kmart, Mead Johnson Nutritionals and Prevention Magazine.
“We’re proud here in Colquitt County to also have Wal-Mart, Colquitt Regional Medical Center, National Beef, Stringfellow Elementary School, Bank of America and the Women’s Federated Club of Moultrie as sponsors,” Lofton said.
The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality.
Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies, and in 2003 launched a five-year campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth.
For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish Web site at nacersano.org.
Media Release- May 10, 2005
Contact: Jana Wiggins, Moultrie Technical College, Director of Marketing
(229) 217-4139 or (229) 891-7000
Dr. Hugh Lofton, MTC Phi Beta Lambda advisor
(229) 217-4199
Email: jwiggins@moultrietech.edu or hlofton@moultrietech.edu
