Hannaford received a first place award for best checkpoint.

AUBURN – As many as 1,000 walkers took part in the March of Dimes’ Walk America on Sunday.

Here in Lewiston-Auburn, walkers took to the streets, tipping some $100,000 in donations.

“I was absolutely estatic,” State WalkAmerica director Judy Soucier said, adding that businesses and individuals gave generously even in light of the uncertain economy.

With six months to go with fundraising, donations are still coming in. A total of 23 walks were held around the state. Walks will continue into the fall and spring. Soucier said the March of Dimes hopes to raise about $620,000 this year.

Soucier said that she was pleasantly surprised at the overwhelming numbers who turned out from Kittery to Lincoln and along the Midcoast to benefit the babies. The generosity of people and businesses was noteworthy.

“Prematurity is a real crisis,” said Soucier, adding even babies as large as 9 pounds 9 ounces are not immune. “It doesn’t mean that they won’t have needs that will put them into a neo natal care unit.”

Three check points were manned by teams from Hannaford, Peoples Bank and the Sun Journal. Hannaford received a first place award for best checkpoint. The Sun Journal placed a close second for its “April Showers Bring May Flowers” theme check point.