'March for Babies' to begin at Thomson Park

Annual participants in the Cherokee County March of Dimes' March for Babies will notice a change when they get to the starting lines on Saturday.

For years the event has started at the tennis courts on the Limestone College campus. Due to a scheduling conflict, organizers were forced to change this year's starting point, having walkers instead congregate at Thomson Park on April 19. The walk will begin at 9 a.m.

"We had to make changes due to their schedule, not anything too bad," said March of Dimes organizer and Gaffney firefighter Jody Brasington.

Walkers will also find the event's route has been changed. Participants will get a close view of Gaffney's historic district as they shuffle toward city hall on Limestone Street before making brief ventures onto Buford and Johnston streets.

The route then takes a turn onto Montgomery St. and continues for several blocks before connecting to Thompson Street.

Though the walk does not begin at the college, walkers still will see a lot of the same landmarks as those at previous events.

Short treks down College Drive and past Petty Street are highlighted in the second half of the 5-mile walk, which also features some of the city's most recent projects.

"It was our goal when coming up with this route to highlight some of the work done by the city," Brasington said. "I believe we have done that."

While the walk sometimes is the easy part, finding parking can be difficult. However, participants will find parking spots available on Limestone, Petty, Johnson and Union streets. Maps will be available the day of the walk.

The march is traditionally one of the largest for municipalities similar in size to Gaffney.

This year's walk is also significant as the state's first "Premie Walk," which will feature persons of all ages who were born prematurely.

"This will show the impact of March of Dimes and how it helps in the lives of those born premature and their families," said March of Dimes Upstate Division Executive Director Kathy Stugart.

For more information, call 1-800- 950-3463; or visit the Web site, marchofdimes.com/southcarolina.