March of Dimes Collegiate Council to host Knightwalk at UCF

The March of Dimes Collegiate Council at UCF will be hosting "Knightwalk for Babies" on Feb. 27 at Millican Hall in an effort to raise money for research regarding premature birth and birth defects. 

The walk will begin at Millican Hall starting at 1 p.m. and will go around the perimeter of the campus.

No donation is required to participate, but participants that contribute $25 will be given a March of Dimes t-shirt. 

Caitlin Callahan, director of the March of Dimes Collegiate Council at UCF, said the event raised just under $10,000 last year. This year, the goal is to raise $10,000 or more. She said that she is expecting over 300 people to come out to this event, as opposed to the 200 people that were in attendance the previous year.

Sarah Gantt, community director for the Central Florida Division of the March of Dimes, said that there have been several breakthroughs as a result of the funding March of Dimes has sought. 

"The surfactant therapy that's given to preemie babies to help develop their lungs and help them to breathe was developed as a result of March of Dimes funding," Gantt said.  "March of Dimes lobbied in Washington in the ‘90s to have our grains and breads fortified with folic acid to reduce neural tube defects."

Sponsors for the walk include David Maus Toyota and Magic 107.7 FM.

Callahan said one of the sponsors will be Project Ducky, a nonprofit organization whose mission statement, "Live, Laugh, Love," is centered on giving back to the community.

"They are going to be out at the walk talking about their organization," Callahan said. "They place rubber duckies along the walk."

There will be several guest speakers at the walk, including President Hitt.

Zaxby's will be providing 300 box lunches for the people that are walking the event, and iKiwi Yogurt will be providing 200 frozen yogurt cups to those who participate. The March of Dimes will also have water available to help participants stay hydrated.

"The March of Dimes office has some water bottles," Callahan said.  "We are going to have some at Millican, and also at the halfway point, which is at Memory Mall."

According to Callahan, the March of Dimes will give away a basketball signed by Dwight Howard.

"We're pretty excited about that one," Callahan said.

Other prizes to be given out include tickets to the Blue Man Group, Congo River Golf passes and tickets to Saks Comedy Club.

"To hold an event on campus requires a lot of coordination with various departments at the university," said Cynthia Sucher, associate vice president of community relations at UCF. Sucher also serves as the advisor for the March of Dimes Collegiate Council at UCF.

"The students who are in Collegiate Council do a great job with all of those logistics," Sucher said.

For more information on the event, go to www.marchforbabies.org.