Babies to take over The Rock
By Melanie Davis

The babies are coming.

Kidd Brewer Stadium on the campus of Appalachian State University will be taken over for the sake of babies on Sunday.

The High Country Area March for Babies will kick off at 3 p.m. with registration for participants beginning at 2:30 p.m.

Teams consist of family and friends, businesses, organizations and church groups. The teams gather pledges from the community to support the walk. It is not per mile, but simply a single amount for each walker. The walk is 3.1 miles and will take place around the ASU track. “Spirit Stations” will be set up along the track to keep walkers refreshed.

An estimated 400 volunteers are expected to participate.

This year’s event will feature a carnival-like atmosphere with fun for the entire family. The walk is the centerpiece of the event, but in the center of the field will a buzz with inflatable games, face painting, clowns, ASU cheerleaders and ASU athletes. Athletes will be operating sports games, such as a football toss.

Families who are not participating in the walk can come to enjoy the center field activities for a minimum donation of $20 per family. There will be free food and refreshments.

A booth will be set up to provide free identification cards for children, which prove helpful to law enforcement or rescue workers in the event of an emergency.

The co-chairs of March for Babies 2009 are ASU athletic director Charlie Cobb and his wife, assistant women’s soccer coach Lindsay Cobb, and pediatrician Dr. Scott St. Clair of Blue Ridge Pediatrics and his wife, Cameron St. Clair.