The March for Babies event brought the Sacramento community together at the State Capitol Saturday to show their support for the March of Dimes campaign, which promotes awareness and research related to premature births.

According to March of Dimes, the early delivery of babies is a significant problem affecting many families, given that one of nine babies in the United States is born prematurely.

Participants attended the event in support of friends and family to encourage awareness and raise funds for the organization through sponsorships.

Stationed at various checkpoints, groups of high school students encourage, encouraged the crowd to continue their march by yelling with enthusiasm. At the finish line, Sacramento State cheerleaders congratulated their effort with lively rallying.

Sacramento State had a strong presence at the event with a large number of university affiliated organizations participating, including the March for the Babies club, Greek organizations and the Sac State Public Relations Student Society of America.

Alpha Phi Omega President Brielle Nevill said Sac State Public Relations Student Society became sponsors after after President Alexander Gonzalez invited them to participate in the marketing of the event.

“This is an organization that is dear to President Gonzalez’ heart, so he asked that we support him,” Nevill said.  

Nevill said Sac State has raised $80,000 and the donation will fund research aimed at reducing premature birth rates and increasing awareness.

Sorority members from Alpha Phi joined the march as one of the many philanthropic endeavors the organization sponsors each semester.

Taylor Cattaneo, Alpha Phi vice president of campus affairs, said her organization chose to participate in the March for the Babies to support members of her sorority and the cause.

“Some of our girls in Alpha Phi are actually doing this for a senior project,” Cattaneo said. “They made it a big deal so we took it as a big deal because everything our girls do we support.”

Cattaneo said she enjoyed the early-morning walk because it was a fun way for people who supported the March for Babies mission to come together.

Tents from dozens of organizations supporting the cause covered the front lawn of the Capitol including Hanson Bridgett, Big 5, Toyota, Famous Footwear, Quiznos and Sutter Health.

Volunteers contributed to the success of the event by giving water, snacks and sandwiches to thousands of participants.

Sutter Health’s fundraising team rose more than $581,343 for the March for Babies, and was the top fundraising team in Northern California.

Jackie England, a Sutter Health site leader, organized fundraising events for the campaign and joined the march for personal reasons.  

England said she has been personally affected by the premature births and the painful suffering it can inflict on a family.

“My brother was born premature and lived until he was five months old.,” England said. “My friends’ daughter was born a pound and three ounces and died when she was 24 weeks. They’re half brother was born with a hole in its heart and didn’t make it through the surgery.”

England said she feels her life has been touched in a number of different ways by premature babies and birth defects.

The March of Dimes organization help families cope and funds research to prevent misfortune. On average, the costs for the delivery and care of full-term babies is $5,000 while premature babies can cost the hospital up to $45,000.

“Prematurity affects us at all different angles,” England said. “It affects us monetarily, and it affects us emotionally.”