Countywide : March of Dimes Plans Walk-A-Thons

A nationwide walk-a-thon to benefit the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation will take place on Saturday and will include three locations in Orange County.

Walks will begin at:

* The entrance to Huntington State Beach, Pacific Coast Highway and Beach Boulevard.

* In Irvine at Mason Regional Park, 18712 University Drive.

* At Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, 34320 Del Obispo St.

The Huntington Beach and Irvine routes are about 12.5 miles, and the Dana Point route is about 10 miles.

Registration at all three sites will be held from 7 to 9 a.m., with the walks continuing until 3 p.m. Individuals as well as teams representing schools, businesses or other groups may participate.

The Orange County chapter of the March of Dimes hopes the 21st annual WalkAmerica events locally will draw 7,000 walkers and raise $750,000. Nationally, more than 1,400 communities and 700,000 walkers are expected to take part.

For more information, call (714) 631-8700.