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Show New March of Dimes Enlists Millions In Battle to Prevent Crippling Diseases r" -.' ' . - .:,:' '. 'J . -J f:f:::?S:;:...:V.s::;: V ' 'V ' .'. V ' v: Beginning Jan. 2 and throughout the month, millions mil-lions of Americans will enlist en-list in the annual offensive to prevent crippling diseases by joining the 1961 New-March New-March of Dimes. In thousands of communities crossroads, hamlets, towns, great cities special ceremonies will mark the sta t of The National Na-tional Foundation's campaign for dimes and dollars to combat birth defects, arthritis and polio; po-lio; to pursue research into those and allied medical problems, prob-lems, and to train health workers. Climaxing the 1961 New I March of Dimes will be the Mothers' March, held on the evening of . Tuesday, Jan. 31 in most areas, during which more than a million women and other volunteers will make home-to-home calls asking support to help prevent crippling diseases. Participants in the Mothers' March will wear a lapel identification iden-tification badge and they will leave in every home an educational educa-tional pamphlet of "Do's and Don'ts" relating to birth defects de-fects and expectant mothers, and another dealing with warning warn-ing signs and symptoms of rthritii. Ths goal of the 1961 New March of Dimes, to cover needful need-ful expenditures in research, pitient aid and professional education, is $45 millions. As always, a hsavy financial burden bur-den on The National Foundation Founda-tion and its 3,100 chapters is the cost of old polio cases. (In 1960, patient-aid outlays to some 40,000 victims totaled approximately ap-proximately $13,250,000.) Most communities in January will stage a "kickoff" ceremony in which local dignitaries and other personalities will participate. partic-ipate. Chief purpose of these events will be to call attention again to the magnitude of the expanded program of The National Na-tional Foundation and to re-emphasize re-emphasize that one of every 16 infants in the U.S. is born with a significant birth defect; that fully 11 million in the nation are afflicted with some form of rheumatism including arthritis; and that the staggering costs of poliq wilt continue in 1961. Joan Perry of Perth Amboy, N. J., national chairman of The National Foundation's Teen Age Program (TAP), is up to her pretty chin in New March of Dimes balloons, to be sold throughout January. Members of TAP (Teen Age Program) and other young people across the country will be active in their local areas in January in organizing colorful special events. Among these will be coffee parties, airlifts, sales of March of Dimes rainbow rain-bow crutches and balloons and bowling and other sports events. They will also help address the 38 million New March of Dimes mailers to be sent to the nation's na-tion's homes. In addition, they will issist adults in making preparations for fashion shows, auctions, telethons and other New March of Dimes benefits. Posters and other campaign materials to be seen across the face of the land will bear the appeal, "Please Say Yes to the New March of Dimes." |