POINT PLEASANT — Babies represent the future.

And the March of Dimes represents hope for all babies, working to improve their health by supporting research to prevent birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

The March of Dimes’ signature fundraising event, March for Babies, will have its official Tri-County Kickoff Thursday, Feb. 19 at the Holiday Inn in Gallipolis, Ohio. The event is slated to start at noon and will feature a lunch and presentation on the mission of March for Babies.

According to Terry Eller, community director for the Tri-County March for Babies, the kickoff will serve as a way to get veteran teams and sponsors together as well as generate new interest.

“(The kickoff) is mainly to get everyone jump-started and motivated to start fundraising,” Eller said. “It is a motivational event to get everyone on board (with March for Babies).”

The kickoff will feature information and flyers regarding how to get started with March for Babies. Different fundraising ideas will be discussed as well, and Susan Binder, RN, BSN, MA and March of Dimes West Virginia Chapter program director, will serve as the guest speaker.

Eller will present a DVD that details what the March for Babies is and how the event helps all babies. New event T-shirts and logos will be displayed during the kickoff as well.

Eller also encouraged those who want to start a new team to attend the event. She said a team can consist of two or more people representing a family member, school, community organization or business. Babies born prematurely or with a birth defect often have families that participate, which has caused the number of family teams to grow.

Eller stressed that each team’s fundraising figure does not need to be extreme, as every dollar helps the cause, and she described March for Babies as being vital because of all the things it does to help babies, including premature births.

“March of Dimes took a turn to concentrate on premature births because a lot of women have premature babies and don’t know why. It is important to find answers to that and to educate women (on premature births) during the onset of pregnancy,” she said.

According to Eller, those who have received a polio vaccine have been helped by March of Dimes. Babies that have received lung surfactant therapy to treat respiratory distress syndrome also have been helped by the organization. In addition, those who are aware that alcohol, street drugs and tobacco use during pregnancy may cause serious birth defects; that folic acid may help prevent neutral tube defects of the brain and spinal cord; and those who know the signs of pre-term labor and what to do if it happens have been aided by the March of Dimes.

“These are all reasons to get involved with (March for Babies) because it’s close to your heart,” Eller said.

According to Eller, this year’s March for Babies goal is to raise $38,000. She described the goal as very obtainable, noting that last year’s event raised more than $35,000.

The Tri-County March for Babies will be 2 p.m. Sunday, May 3 at Krodel Park in Point Pleasant. For more information, visit www.marchforbabies.com or www.marchofdimes.com or call Eller at 304-675-6029.