When thousands of walkers throughout the area take off April 24 in WalkAmerica 101 for the March of

Dimes, a variety of Fayette County volunteers will be leading the way toward "Saving babies, together."

Planning for the annual event kicked off last week at a breakfast at Aberdeen Woods Conference Center,

sponsored by the center and First Citizens Bank. "Star 94FM" radio personality Tracy St. George was MC for the program,

which featured "ambassadors" Donna and Chandler Worshum speaking about how their lives were touched by the

March of Dimes.

Jim Landers, an instructor at Arlington Christian School in Fairburn, explained how to start "teams" which

form the nuclei for fund-raising before the actual Walk. Area MOD coordinator Christine Zrolka says that about 30

teams are in place in Fayette to recruit "walkers," and the goal is about 50 teams.

In addition to recruiting, the teams will be placing die-cut "walking shoes" for donations in

area businesses, selling raffle tickets for a new Saturn auto, and planning other fund-raisers.

Special "goody bags" for volunteers were given at the breakfast event and included fortune cookies from

Ha-Lo Marketing and Promotion.

Leaders for the WalkAmerica event include Nathan Rushin, Peachtree National Bank,

chairman; Tracey Coker, Fayette Community Hospital, vice chairman; Don Ethier, Peachtree City

Kiwanis Club, operations; Susan Taylor, City of Peachtree City, special events; Davina Hattaway of

Chateau Communities and Kimberly Mitchell of Fayette County Bank, recruitment; and Mark Heard,

Fayette Community Hospital, event committee.

This year's WalkAmerica is under the sponsorship of CIGNA Health Care of Georgia, with

other sponsors including NationsBank, Aerosoles, Canon, A&P FoodMarket, WGST Radio,

WSB-TV Family to Family (Southwire, A&P, AirTouch Cellular, SouthTrust Bank and Emory

Healthcare), Star 94FM Radio, Marietta Daily Journal and Neighbor Newspapers, Coca-Cola, Crystal

Springs and Georgia Power Co.

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