The March of Dimes hosted a kickoff fundraising luncheon atKing’s Daughters Medical Center Thursday for its WalkAmericacampaign, which will culminate Oct. 28 at Exchange Club Park.

The money raised will help fight the war against prematurebabies. The campaign began in 2003, but this will be the secondyear the walk will be hosted in Brookhaven. Last year’s walk wassmall because of Hurricane Katrina.

“WalkAmerica is the bread and butter of March of Dimes and wasthe first major fundraising walk of its kind,” said Alan Burrow,community director, who serves as a liaison between March of Dimesand local volunteers.

Premature birth is a growing crisis that now affects half amillion babies in the United States every year. As incentives toraise money for this year’s walk, mothers told stories Thursday ofwhat their premature babies had to endure.

A Mommy Mobile will go into effect within the next two years onthe Gulf Coast. Mommy Mobile will serve as an OB-GYN on wheels thatgoes to communities where there are inadequate health carefacilities.

Burrow gave the team leaders information for the walk, whichwill be at the Brookhaven Exchange Club Park on Saturday, Oct.28.

Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. and the walk begins at 6 p.m.Afterwards, refreshments, awards and door prizes will be presented.Local sponsors are King’s Daughters Medical Center and StateBank.