SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Locals can grab their walking shoes and March for Babies, an event beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Eastern Shore Centre fountain.

Money raised during the two-mile walk will help fund further research for babies, Christina North, March for Babies northwest division director, said.

“We do research on Down syndrome, diabetes and other research done at a cellular level.”

The driving force of Saturday’s event is to bring awareness — and funds — to a cause that prevents premature births and reduces the number of babies born with birth defects, according marchforbabies.org, the foundation’s official Web site. 

“It’s always great to see the turnout,” North said. “So many people come out to do this.”

“We encourage families and companies to join a team and walk.”

Refreshments and sno-cones will be served afterward.

Registration will be open before the walk, from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m., at the fountain. Registration is required and can be done at the Web site, marchforbabies.org.

Walkers must raise $10 for the walk to benefit the foundation, North said.

“March of Dimes’ WalkAmerica … name was changed to March for Babies in 2008 to better identify our mission,” she said.

If walkers raised $100, that money could go to 10 families with infants in neonatal intensive care receive information on how to take care of their baby after leaving the hospital, according to the Web site.

March of Dimes was started by Franklin Roosevelt in 1921 to end an epidemic of polio, an infantile paralysis. By 1955 polio was not as common and led the organization to concentrate on birth defects and premature birth, the Web site said.

Since 1984, March of Dimes has funded nearly $13 million in 200 grants related to prematurity and babies born with low birth rate. Each year more than 460,000 babies are born in the U.S. prematurely and 120,000 babies are born with serious birth defects.

Premature babies can suffer lifelong damages such as chronic lung disease, mental retardation, cerebral palsy and blindness.

“Today our mission has expanded to include all babies; those born healthy and those who have to struggle to survive,” North said. “Healthy babies are products of the March of Dimes mission; their moms, dads, nurses and doctors are educated through our programs and research.”

The organization is working to get insurance for mothers and babies. More than 9 million babies in the U.S. are uninsured, which means no immunizations, treatment for illnesses or preventive checkups, the Web site said.

For more information and to register for the walk visit marchforbabies.org.