MyFoxNY.com -- Rain didn't stop thousands of people from putting their best foot forward outside Lincoln Center in the March of Dimes annual March for Babies.

Fox 5's Andrea Day hosted Sunday's walkathon, which drew about 15,000.

New York Giants Eli Manning was the celebrity chairman and Fox 5 and sister station My9 were media sponsors.

My9's Audrey Puente hosted the walk in Bloomfield, N.J.

Every year, more than half a million babies are born prematurely in the United States. Premature births are more likely to lead to death or disability. The walkathon helps raises money to ensure all babies have a healthy start in life.

NEW YORK, April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of March of Dimes supporters are set to join Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning on Sunday, April 27, when March for Babies, formerly known as WalkAmerica, steps off from Lincoln Center at 65th St. inManhattan. Manning, who is the March for Babies Celebrity Chairman for New York City, will be joined by March of Dimes Foundation President, Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, CBS 2 News Co-Anchor, Maurice DuBois, and CBS 2 Reporter, Sam Ryan. DuBois and Ryan are co-hosting the morning program.

"I'm proud to be partnering with the March of Dimes New York Division," said Manning. "Everyone can be a champion for baby health by signing up for March for Babies."New York City's March for Babies Chairperson, Jane Chmielinski, lauded the Super Bowl MVP's involvement. "We are thrilled to have a champion like Eli Manning committed to our cause," she said.

Source: Burlington Free Press

James Madison University sophomore basketball player Pierre Curtis confirmed in a phone interview Tuesday that he is considering a transfer to the University of Vermont.

The 6-foot-3, 170-pound guard, who was given a conditional release from JMU by recently hired coach Matt Brady, said he will be in Burlington today for an official visit.

Curtis made 26 starts for James Madison this past season, averaging 30.6 minutes and 10 points a game. The agreement made with Brady, he said, is that if he decides not to transfer he will be welcomed back to JMU for his ju-nior season.

"It's down to just three schools: Vermont, Wyoming and James Madison," said Curtis, a Denver native.