The “March &Run for Babies” at Heritage Elementary School on April 23 will offer the first “Run for Babies 5K” in Alabama. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – Affiliated with March of Dimes, the 2016 Madison County “March & Run for Babies” at Heritage Elementary School will include the first “5K Run for Babies” in Alabama.

March & Run for Babies “promises to be a fun day out with people who share our passion for improving the health of babies. Many of us take part in the annual event; however, this year we’re also incorporating our very first 5K,” Jennifer G. Roberts said. Roberts is Community Director, Mountain Lakes Division of March of Dimes.

Entrants in March & Run for Babies on April 23 will register at 7:15 a.m. The run starts at 8 a.m. Walk registration opens at 8:15 a.m., followed by the event at 9 a.m. The venue will be the Heritage campus, 11775 County Line Road and Bradford Greenway.

“Mayor Troy Trulock will kick off the events and help announce awards. Police Chief Larry Muncey may even run with us,” Kristen Strickland said. Strickland works as Business Banker with PNC Business Banking.

“We are really trying to get more runners,” Strickland said. “The 5k will be an official timed and chipped race with individual and team awards.”

“Madison County has such a large running community and we really want to encourage our area runners to join us,” Strickland said. For both events, the participants will be family teams, company teams and people walking with friends.

Sponsors and fundraising teams have tents and give-away promotional items.

Kids Zone’s play area will offer face painting, a build-a-bear booth and balloon animals. After the walk, Publix’s Family Picnic will have hotdogs, beverages and other snacks.

This year’s sponsors are Publix, Jerry Damson Honda Acura, COLSA, Redstone Federal Credit Union, HAPPI Pediatrics, Jacobs, Huntsville Hospital, Toyota, Alabama Society of CPAs and Regions Bank.

For 75-plus years, March of Dimes has helped babies get a healthy start in life and helps all babies with research, education, vaccines and breakthroughs.

Madison County residents can register at marchforbabies.org/event/huntsvilleal or runforbabies.org/madisoncounty.

For more information, visit Runforbabies.marchofdimes.org/madisoncounty, marchforbabies.org, marchofdimes.org/alabama or Facebook/modalabama.