Torie Robinson was born weighing only 1 pound — so tiny her mom Tocoa Robinson’s wedding ring could fit around her leg.

“Hearing her cry was a feeling I can’t describe. It gave me hope,” Tocoa said. “I was ready to face reality that I’d spent five months carrying my baby girl, but it was time to part ways.”

Torie is now 2 years old, and the Robinsons are this year’s March of Dimes ambassador family.

The Run for Babies 5K will begin at 7:30 a.m. and the March for Babies walk will start at 9 a.m. after an opening ceremony in the green space behind The Longstreet Clinic on Saturday.

“We are expecting about 800 people to March for Babies,” said Debbie Childress, March of Dimes development manager.

Childress said the No. 1 cause of infant death is prematurity. The fundraising efforts associated with the race and walk are one way to combat the issue.

Each year, the March of Dimes chooses families with children who benefited from research, programs or educational campaigns aimed toward its mission to treat babies born with health problems.

Torie; Tocoa and her husband, Calvin Robinson; Tocoa’s mom; Tocoa and Calvin’s other children Tai, Tasia and Tyler; and other relatives will lead the walk this year.

The event will also have children’s activities, including a bounce house and hands-on crafts. A former Atlanta Falcon, Jerious Norwood, will also be attending and will lead the attendees in warmup exercises before the race.

For more information, visit www.marchofdimes.org and www.marchforbabies.org.