Lace up and raise funds: The Gators March for Babies 5K walk is scheduled for Sunday.
Established nine years ago by the March of Dimes Collegiate Council at UF, Gators March for Babies is a fundraising effort to help babies have a healthy, full-term birth.
The event has raised more than $350,000 for the March of Dimes, director Kyle Croft said. Last year, Gators March for Babies raised $80,000.
Croft said this year’s goal was to raise $100,000.
Participants can register online at gatorsmarchforbabies.org or in person beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday on Turlington Plaza. A thousand walkers have registered for Gators March for Babies so far, but Croft said they are expecting a total of 1,300 people by the time the 5K starts at 2 p.m.
Croft, a 22-year-old applied physiology and kinesiology senior, got involved with Gators March for Babies his freshman year and said the experience has been rewarding.
“All it really takes is for you to go through the neonatal intensive care unit at Shands,” he said. “Once you do that, you’ll understand why. It’s all for that — It’s seeing the smiles on families’ faces when they bring their kids who might not have had a chance without March of Dimes.”
Gator Domino’s, The Gelato Company, Moe’s Southwest Grill and Zaxby’s will provide free food at the event.
Prizes include a year’s lease for a three-bedroom apartment at Boardwalk for the overall fundraiser, and free socials for the top fundraising team and team with most spirit points.
Kelly Chambers, development director for March of Dimes and a UF alumna, said the mission is to give every baby a healthy start.
“There are four million babies born a year, and March of Dimes can help every single one of them,” she said.
