East Texas March For Babies raises over $6K for health research

TYLER, Texas (KETK) – East Texans gathered at Southside Park in Tyler on Saturday to raise awareness of the health risks of premature births and to collect donations for maternal health research.

Tyler woman helps connect community members in need through Facebook group

Pre-term or premature births happen when a baby arrives in the weeks or months before when most babies are born at around nine months. Premature birth is the second largest cause of infant death in the United States.

To help with this maternal and infant health crisis, several East Texas organizations joined together on Saturday to host a March For Babies event through Southside Park and Rose Rudman Trail.

“This event is more than just a walk, it’s a visible difference in our community now and for generations to come,” NET Health WIC Director Tecora Smith said. “With the community’s support, the organizers are working to ensure that every family has a healthy pregnancy and that every child has a healthy start on life.”

Saturday’s event was just one of several Marches For Babies that have happened across the country this year. Tyler’s march provided local community members with educational resources and has raised over $6,500 that will go towards maternal and infant health research and education efforts.

“Texas has a scorecard of a D in as far as preterm births and that’s just not good enough,” Jean Hichen Williams with Zeta Phi Beta Sorority said on Saturday. “We want to change that we want to impact that and that’s what we’re working toward.”

To learn more or donate, visit the March For Babies online.

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