Photo submitted Dancers from Ultimate Rhythm Dance Company perform at Saturday's March for Babies.

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UNION — The Union County March for Babies took place Saturday, raising over $30,000 for the March of Dimes.

Approximately 150 people were in attendance at March for Babies at Foster Park, and team fund raising efforts had garnered $32,500 as of Tuesday morning.

“We are just shy of our $34,000 goal, but we still have money coming in,” said Lindsay Vickery, community director.

The event opened with the singing of the national anthem by Tiffany Littlejohn, and DJ 5-OH and the band Quest provided musical entertainment. Dancers from Ultimate Rhythm Dance Company also performed multiple times.

Vickery said she is thankful for this year’s sponsors — the City of Union, Union County, Broad River Electric Cooperative, Gestamp and Lockhart Power — as well as those who donated food or entertainment to the event including Save-A-Lot, Bi-Lo, Food Lion and Awesome Inflatables.

Several team awards were also presented at the event. The Milliken Cedar Hill team took the two biggest awards — Top Fundraising Team and the t-shirt award. The award for Top Individual Fundraiser went to Brandy Letson. Buffalo Elementary School was named Top School. Team Captain of the Year was Katie Haney of Union County High School. The No. 1 new team this year was Gestamp. The award for Most Money Raised Online went to Luke’s Bayou Buddies Swamping Tears for Cheers.

Vickery said the most urgent infant health problem in the United States today is premature birth — affecting 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.

Find more information at www.marchforbabies.org.

A 5K run/walk was also held at this year’s March for Babies. Results from the 5K are as follows:

Males

14 years and under

Noah McCutcheon — 23:32

Adam Strickland — 33:42

21-25 years

Jeremy Cash — 35:53

26-30 years

Blake Lawson — 24:44

Kevin Youngblood — 35:31

36-40 years

Steven Russell — 23:45

Patrick Russell — 24:11

41-45 years

Robert Williams — 25:22

Rick Smith — 25:59

46-50 years

Tommy Harrison — 27:28

50-60 years

Joe Nichols — 26:08

Bob Winslow — 46:50

Stewart Winslow — 46:50

61-70 years

Rich Winslow — 60:10

81-90 years

Don Winslow — 60:10

Females

15-20 years

Carmen Gibson — 35:53

21-25 years

Jenny Williams — 35:08

Whitney Winslow — 35:48

Ashley Ivey — 46:30

26-30 years

Meka Adams — 25:49

Miranda Littlejohn — 34:17

36-40 years

Jaime Strickland — 32:20

46-50 years

Renee Nicholson — 37:17

50-60 years

Andrena Powell-Baker 44:45

Mabel Winslow — 46:50

Staff Writer Derik Vanderford can be reached at 864-427-1234, ext. 29, or by email at dvanderford@heartlandpublications.com.