By Gavin Johnson, WCJB TV20 News

Last year almost 13% of all babies born in North Central Florida counties were premature. While doctors are puzzled and numbers are going up, thousands of North Central Floridians are doing what they can. Getting research money and awareness into fast pace.

More than 6-thousand walkers came out this morning and participated in Walk America 2007. Which is A walk design to help raise money and awareness for premature births. Mostly all counties here in North Central Florida are above state and national premature averages.

So far this year Gainesville's March of Dimes has raised 900-thousand dollars.

If you weren't able to make it this morning, March of Dimes has four walks scheduled next month in Lake City, Palaka, Ocala, and Lake County.