Houston, Texas, May 07, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HCA Healthcare’s Gulf Coast Division is celebrating a successful 2018 Walk for Babies, which took place Sunday, May 6 at the University of Houston campus.
Over 800 HCA participants smashed through their fundraising goal of $150,000, raising more than $282,600 not including sponsorship dollars provided by HCA Gulf Coast Division to help the March of Dimes fight prematurity, a serious problem in the United States.
“I am so proud and grateful for everyone and our HCA family who supported our shared mission to achieve this amazing result,” said Ashley McClellan, CEO of HCA-affiliated The Woman’s Hospital of Texas and chair of this year’s walk. “As the #1 hospital and health system delivering the most babies in the Houston area, including caring for the most premature infants, we have a vested interest in addressing the issue of prematurity. Texas’ premature birth rates are increasing, with Southeast Texas rates estimated at 12.5–15 percent, among the worst in the nation. Harris County alone had a 2017 premature birth rate of 10.8 percent. Premature births among our Hispanic and African American mothers were highest, at 13.7 percent. This walk is the premier event for raising funds to support research and provide education and information to families dealing with prematurity.”
The final tally for the 2018 walk are not yet available from the March of Dimes, but McClellan is confident Houston will surpass its $2 million fundraising goal. “Houston’s walk is the largest in the nation, and our HCA Gulf Coast Division family of hospitals came together to support healthy moms and strong babies. I am honored to have lead such a historic year for the Houston March for Babies.”
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About HCA Healthcare’s Gulf Coast Division
HCA Healthcare’s Gulf Coast Division is a comprehensive network of hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, emergency centers and diagnostic imaging facilities in greater Houston, Corpus Christi and South Texas. Facilities in the Gulf Coast Division include: 17 hospitals, nine ambulatory care centers, emergency centers, and a regional transfer center that provides one phone call access and support for patient transfers into and out of the HCA Gulf Coast Division Affiliated Hospitals as well as access to ground and air transportation within a 150- mile radius. For more information, visit www.HCAGulfCoast.com.
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