ALEXANDRIA, Va. Motorcoach operators and the motorcoach industry will be front and center for a major national fund-raising effort in September on behalf of the March of Dimes healthy babies program.

Coach operators are being urged by the United Motorcoach Association to sign up for the Miles for Babies program on Sept. 24. Many already have.

Operators participating in the program are committing to donate 10 cents a mile for each mile driven on that day and during the March of Dimes fall special events season.

Operators also are being asked to donate a "motorcoach for the day" to be auctioned off at a local March of Dimes event.

Money raised by operators will go to support programs in communities across America that help mothers have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. Additionally, the money will fund research to find answers to the serious problems that threaten babies.

UMA Chairman Godfrey LeBron says the Miles for Babies program gives each member of UMA the opportunity to partner with its local March of Dimes chapter and become a champion for babies, raising urgently needed money to help prevent birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

"Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death, and the March of Dimes is committed to reducing its toll and ensuring that every baby has a healthy start in life," said LeBron.

"So, get on board. Help all babies be born healthy," he urges fellow operators.

While companies participating in the program will donate 10 cents for every mile their fleet drives Sept. 24, many operators also plan to conduct other events that day to raise money for the program.

Operators will be conducting auctions and raffles; holding bake, craft or rummage sales at their company offices; conducting coin drives at local sporting events or meetings; hosting spaghetti dinners; having "dress-up days" where, in exchange for a donation to Miles for Babies, employees can come to work in casual attire, sports jerseys, Hawaiian shirts whatever theme they choose, or developing an "Office Olympics," where employees compete at everyday tasks, or games such as a paper clip toss. Money is raised for Miles for Babies by employees paying to participate.

To sign up for the Miles for Babies program, go to www.milesforbabies.org.

Here are some of the coach companies that have already signed up: Young Transportation of Asheville, N.C.; Trobec Bus Service of St. Stephen, Minn.; Magic Carpet Ride of Vero Beach, Fla.; Stratton Charters of Cuba City, Wis.; Southern Coach Co./Coach America of Durham, N.C.; Royal Coach Tours of San Jose, Calif.; Paradise Trailways of Hicksville, N.Y.; Panorama Tours Inc. of Clifton, N.J.

Newton Bus Service of Gloucester, Va.; Lancaster Trailways of the Carolinas, Lancaster, S.C.; Kobussen Trailways of Kaukauna, Wis.; Kelly Tours of Savannah, Ga.; Huskey Trailways of Festus, Mo.; Hotard Coaches of New Orleans; Gray Line of Seattle; Grand Tours of Lockport, N.Y.; Excursion Trailways of Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Escot Bus Lines of Largo, Fla.; Diamond Coach of Dallas, Duncanville, Texas; Dan Dipert Coaches of Arlington, Texas.

Daisy Tours of San Antonio, Texas; Coach Tours of Brookfield, Conn.; Cavalier Coach Trailways of Boston; Best Charters of Royal Palm Beach, Fla.;

Balboa Transportation of San Diego; Anchor Trailways and Tours of Nashville, Tenn.; All Aboard Charters of Sarasota, Fla., and A Candies Coachworks of Gainesville, Fla.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies. For the latest resources and information, go to www.marchofdimes.com.