The annual campaign for healthy babies is just around the corner.

Tonight, at the Austin Bruins game in Riverside arena, the Austin/Albert Lea area March of Dimes’ will hold its March for Babies kickoff.

Here team captains for this year’s march can meet and greet other team members and receive a free ticket to the hockey game at 7:35 p.m.

Each year, roughly 300 to 400 people enter the march, according to Peggy Young, co-chair for the March for Babies local campaign. She said last year’s march raised nearly $50,000. This year’s march on April 16 will remain the same as in the past, starting at Torge’s Live, weaving through Austin and ending at Torge’s.

Every year, the march features an ambassador family — a family that has experienced either a death, continuing complication or success story with a premature birth.

Young, who has served as chair or co-chair for the past nine years, said this is the first year the group has teamed up with the Austin Bruins.

“We’re very excited to be there,” Young said. She added past ambassador families will be present to share their stories with others.

Team captains can pick up their team packets at the game tonight, along with March of Dimes merchandise and information on how to run their teams this year. It’s also a chance for people to sign up who haven’t yet done so.

Teams can range from two to as many as 40 people and can be friends, families businesses or any combination.

“We just invite everyone who wants to walk to come and join us,” Young said. “Come and see us. We’ll do whatever we can to help teams raise the money that we’re looking to raise.”

Anyone who can’t attend the kickoff or hasn’t signed up can register at www.marchforbabies.com.