Messenger Intern

Even though the weather on Saturday morning was dreary, the support for the March of Dimes Walk America was at its peak.

The morning began with the teams gathering around a stage where Dianne Smith, the walk chairwoman, proudly read the names of many sponsors including such national sponsors as Cigna Heath Care, Kmart, and the National Peanut Board.

Smith then told the crowd of supporters about Baby Emily and the struggles she has faced so far in her short life.

"Emily was supposed to join us today but she has become sick and has to visit the doctor," Smith said while encouraging the audience to keep the child in their prayers that she could come to some other upcoming events.

According to Smith, part of her job as walk chairwoman was to be responsible, along with the rest of the walk committee, for recruiting teams to participate in the walk, for encouraging the walkers to come, and for arranging the food donations that were made by area organizations.

March of Dimes is an organization that devotes most of its time to the education of pregnant women and participation in new, groundbreaking research.

Smith said that one of the most recent discoveries is the positive affects that folic acid can have on unborn babies.

"Without the support of people like those here today, none of this research and life saving information would be available," says Smith.

Walkers in Saturday’s event ranged from teams at local businesses to area clubs.

One of these clubs, which was been a supporter of the March of Dimes for about five years, is the Civitan Club.

This club provided a breakfast of doughnuts and orange juice and a lunch of hot dogs, chips, and soft drinks for the walkers.

Darren Hipps, the Civitan Club president, said "The March of Dimes is one of the organizations that we support and we can do this by providing food for those who participate."

Alison Huggins of Tri-Omega was painting faces at the event. "Tri-Omega, as a service club, is interested in helping others.

This is our way of helping the future.

It is important to support events like this because one day we will be having children and may need the help of an organization like the March of Dimes," she said.

The March of Dimes walk ended at 10 a.m. but the good times and fellowship among the participants continued. They enjoyed their hot dogs and drinks as Dianne Smith announced the award winning fundraisers.

The team that raised

the most money was Pike Manor. The youth team that raised the most money was Goshen Elementary School.

The individual who raised the most money was Debra Stewart.

The top team per capita was Family Finders.

The top new team was Pike County Department of Human Resources.

Thanks to these supporters and ones like them this March of Dimes event raised approximately $30,000.