The Ruston High School chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) will be hosting Walk a Mile in Their Shoes, a fundraiser to promote March of Dimes, at Ruston High’s Hoss Garrett Stadium on Saturday February 10.
Check in begins at 9:30 a.m., with the walk kicking off at 10 a.m. The entrance fee is a package of receiving blankets or $5 per walker, and donations can be dropped off until 12 p.m. for those unable to participate in the walk.
The chapter goal is to raise awareness of the March of Dimes by collecting 1,000 infant receiving blankets for project Blanket Blessings, an initiative created by Anna-Katherine Thompson, Miss Belle of the D’Arbonne 2023. Each blanket collected is packaged with a special postcard to educate and encourage families with babies in neonatal intensive care units in Louisiana.
To support the project, the community is invited to join us for the walk by donating infant receiving blankets purchased locally or by ordering from the Amazon wish list, P3 Baby Blanket Drive 2023-2024. Cash donations will also be accepted and used to purchase additional blankets. All donations go directly to the Blanket Blessing project.
March of Dimes is an organization set on ending preventable maternal health risk and decreasing the infant mortality rate while also trying to close the health equity gap. This is especially important in Louisiana, where the prematurity rate is among the highest in the nation at 13.3%, creating the need for the 1000 NICU beds in the state.
During the march, walkers can expect energetic music to encourage progress, informative slides about March of Dimes presented on the jumbotron, and concessions to be available.
Matthew Daulton, Ruston High FBLA President encourages everyone to attend. “I’m really hoping the community shows up to the walk. It’ll be an amazing way for our community, school, and RHS FBLA to band together to support both the babies in the NICUs and their families in their time of need.”
“This project is close to my heart as I have had a family member that benefited from the support received through the March of Dimes,” said advisor Dori Lewis. “This organization strives to end premature birth and so much more. This is an opportunity for us all to gather as a community and support a good cause.”
Following the event, RHS FBLA will be assisting with packaging and delivering the final product to NICUs.
Questions concerning the event or donations can be directed to Ms. Lewis at dori.lewis@lincolnschools.org.
