On April 28 at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, in Allentown, over 5,000 families and business leaders will join together in the March of Dimes' annual March for Babies – the nation's oldest walk fundraiser honoring babies born healthy and those who need help to survive and thrive.

March for Babies is the largest annual fundraising event for the March of Dimes, which will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2013. More than 4 million babies are born in the United States each year and the March of Dimes has helped each and every one of them through research, education, vaccines and breakthroughs.

Registration begins 9 a.m. with the 2-mile walk kicking off 10 a.m. Participation in March for Babies will provide a memorable and rewarding day for the whole family including characters, snacks, beverages, entertainment and a kick-off program with 100.7 WLEV's Josh Gears. The finish line will include lunch, music, face painting, crafts, goodie bags and over 20 sponsor vendors. To register for this event, visit www.marchforbabies.org.

Participating in March for Babies is an important way to support the cause of healthy babies, especially during the Foundation's milestone 75th anniversary year. Whether you walk to celebrate a baby in your life or to honor one who did not survive, together we can work to prevent premature birth and other infant health problems and look forward to a day when every baby is born healthy and strong.

Babies who are born too soon or sick usually spend weeks or even months in the hospital and they often have to cope with lifelong health problems or disabilities. The emotional costs to families are high and so are the financial costs to families and their employers. More than 20,000 companies big and small partner with the March of Dimes through March for Babies to reduce the burden and help improve the health of babies.

This year the March of Dimes will recognize past ambassador families at the start of the walk to celebrate its 75th anniversary. These families will be joined by Mary Bianchi MSN, RN, CNS, NEA-BC, vice president, women's and children's services at Lehigh Valley Health Network, the 2013 March for Babies Chair. As a parent and health care professional she took on the role to raise awareness and important funding to provide for babies who are born premature or with birth defects.

Funds raised by March for Babies in Pennsylvania help support prenatal wellness programs, research grants, neonatal intensive care unit family support programs and advocacy efforts for stronger, healthier babies. Currently, the March of Dimes is investing more than $99 million nationally and $4.5 million in Pennsylvania in research and programs.

Babies born in 2013 have a better chance for a long and healthy life than earlier generations, thanks to 75 years of health advances, made possible in part by the March of Dimes. They will live longer and are less likely to have a birth defect than babies born 75 years ago. They are also much less likely to die from an infectious disease thanks to widespread use of vaccinations to prevent polio, rubella, measles and other infections.

The March of Dimes was founded in January 1938 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. A polio sufferer himself, FDR founded the organization to "lead, direct and unify" the fight against polio. Today, about 4 million babies are born in the United States each year and the March of Dimes helps each and every one of them through its history of research, education, vaccines and breakthroughs.

To join in, visit marchforbabies.org or call 610- 814-7000 to sign up as an individual; to start a corporate, family/friends team; or to donate to help babies be born healthy.