Tracy Press

 
Today’s walk raises $35,000 for March of Dimes.

Walkers headed out down Lowell Avenue from Dr Power’s Park during today’s walk. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

Today, carted around in a red Radio Flyer wagon, Riley was one of about 300 people who trekked through Tracy for the annual March of Babies, a walkathon to raise awareness about premature births and raise money for its research.

The walk is one of the main fundraisers for March of Dimes, a foundation dedicated to giving babies their full nine months in the womb. Locals started a chapter in Tracy three years ago. Since then, the event has tripled in size.

Eunice Steves pulled her granddaughter, Molly Cambra, to the starting line this morning. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

Families brought in organizations, companies and friends to walk with them, forming teams that walked in honor of preemies in their lives. Others wore armbands in remembrance of premature babies who died.

Organizer Dena Pimentel, the one who originally brought the walk to Tracy, said her husband and her niece were both born too early.

“So this cause is really special to me,” she said. “And when you hear people’s stories, you see that for a lot of them, it’s close to their hearts, as well.”

Today’s walk raised $35,000 for March of Dimes. Annually, the Tracy chapter raises between $60,000 and $70,000 through two events, the walk and another fundraiser in the fall.

“It’s nice that we can support this cause and raise awareness, but still have fun,” Pimentel said. “I can’t wait to see what this is like next year.”

Alyna Crandell helped her son, Krisjen, with his pirate hat as they got ready to head out on the March for Babies. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

West High School’s Key Club helped out Riley’s team, called the Radio Flyers, and manned a rest stop to refresh participants on the 4-mile walk.

A barbecue lunch awaited the walkers at the finish line, where the crowd kept busy with T-shirt and dance contests and face painting.

Near the end, names of preemies who have died were read aloud, and doves were released in their honor.

• We want to hear what you have to say. To reach Tracy Press reporter Jennifer Wadsworth, call 830-4225 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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written by Denise Cheeseman , May 13, 2008

Congratulations to all of you who participated in this wonderful event. Thank you!