Their desire to have a positive impact on the lives of babies and their families is why Sheriff David Taylor and his wife, Betty Jo, are serving as co-chairs of the 2011 March for Babies in Union County.

In a statement released Thursday, the March of Dimes stated the Taylors are committed to helping reach the event goal of $22,500 to support the organization’s research and community programs to help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies to begin healthy lives. March for Babies will take place on Oct. 15 at Veteran’s Park.

“In order to support the March of Dimes efforts in South Carolina, the need for Union County to participate in March for Babies is more important than ever,” says Betty Jo. “We are serving as the 2011 Co-Chair for March for Babies because we believe if we can give a child a healthy birth, we have a positive impact on their future quality of life. I challenge Union County’s businesses and families to join me in raising critical funds so more families will know the joy of having a healthy baby.”

“We are honored to have the leadership of David and Betty Jo and the support of the employees of Union County,” said Lindsay Vickery, Community Director. “When our local businesses and families come together for March for Babies they show the whole community the value of volunteer service and community involvement, and they impact the lives of babies and families in Union County and throughout our state.”

The most urgent infant health problem in the U.S. today is premature birth. It affects more than half a million babies each year, with the number growing every day. Babies born too soon are more likely to die or have disabilities. The March of Dimes is committed to reducing this toll by funding research to find the answers to premature birth and providing comfort and information to families who are affected.

Each year, the South Carolina Chapter of the March of Dimes invests more than $1.5 million in mission initiatives statewide, including research grants and local community services. Through these program services, the March of Dimes continues working to prevent birth defects and infant death, reduce South Carolina’s premature birth rate, increase access to prenatal care and educate men and women about having healthy babies.

In Union County, March for Babies is sponsored by Wallace Thomson Hospital. The March for Babies is sponsored nationally by the March of Dimes number one corporate supporter Kmart, Farmers Insurance Group, Bayer HealthCare, CIGNA, Continental Airlines, Famous Footwear, FedEx, Sanofi Pasteur, First Response, and Mission Pharmacal.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.