Editor, The Herald:

As the chair of The Greater Farmville March for Babies 2012, I would like to thank our wonderful community for its support of our event and our cause. In April, more than 500 supporters came to Centra Southside Community Hospital for our annual Greater Farmville Area March for Babies. We gathered to celebrate the hard work of our fundraisers, who raised over $23,000 towards our total goal of $29,000.

In the coming months, you will hear about several Fall fundraisers to help us meet our 2012 goal of $29,000. We know we can count on our generous Farmville community to support these efforts.

The funds we raise this year will help the March of Dimes prevent birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality through research, community service, education and advocacy.

Each year in the United States, more than half a million babies are born prematurely, and more than 120,000 babies are born with serious birth defects. The March of Dimes relies on supporters and companies like those in the Greater Farmville area to help ensure that more babies are born healthy.

The March of Dimes THANKS the good people of the Greater Farmville Area for its generous support of our mission of helping families have healthy babies.

Now in its 75th year, the March of Dimes continues to work for our communities, often in ways unknown by the general population. You might not know it, but you have been touched by the March of Dimes if:

• You or your baby received a polio vaccine;

• You or your baby received a “heel prick,” which screened for one of 29 newborn health disorders;

• You had or know someone whose baby was cared for in a newborn intensive care unit (NICU);

• Your baby was born prematurely and received the advanced care that the organization has researched, funded and supported;

• You knew not to smoke or drink alcohol during your pregnancy;

• You knew to take folic acid during your pregnancy to prevent spinal birth defects such as spina bifida;

• You had a healthy baby due in part to good prenatal care.

Once more, thank you Farmville, for your generosity, your enthusiasm and for your continued support of our cause. Farmville can proudly say that with the March of Dimes we are working together for stronger, healthier babies, here and everywhere!

Jovita C. Barton

Director of Obstetrics, Nursery & Pediatrics

2012 Greater Farmville March for Babies Chair

Centra Southside Community Hospital, Farmville