Heather Ricketts, a mother of three, suffered the loss of her first child due to preterm birth complications in 2014 and gave birth to her third child during the pandemic.

Ricketts and Leroy Ball, president and CEO of Koppers, are rallying the community to virtually support families through March for Babies: A Mother of a Movement.

As this year’s March for Babies ambassador and chairman respectively, Ricketts and Ball will help raise awareness and funds for March of Dimes. They will also lead the local movement to ensure that every mom and baby is healthy.

The March for Babies campaign will kick off at 10 a.m. May 8.

Participants will take part in a variety of activities and fundraising challenges, including a national celebration later this year. They can get involved in the following ways by signing up as a team captain, team member or individual or taking action to connect, fundraise and spread awareness.

In the region, March for Babies will be sponsored this year by Koppers; UPMC and UPMC Health Plan; Cozen O’Connor; Gateway Health; Philips; 84 Lumber; Faegre Drinker; Peoples; Perkin Elmer; WellSpan Health; Allegheny Health Network; Eckert, Seamans, Cherin & Mellott, LLC; EY; KPMG; Leech Tishman; Magellan Health; MSA; MBM Contracting; PNC; Universal Learning; and Zuckerman Spaeder, LLP.

For more information on March for Babies, including how to sign up, download the March for Babies app or visit marchforbabies.org/event/westernpa.