By Taylor Holland

The Selma Times-Journal

 

Dozens turned out to First Baptist Church of Selma Saturday to enjoy a warm spring morning, but also to show their support for life, regardless of when it begins.

The 10th annual Walk for Life fundraiser joined pro-life supporters to raise money for Sav-A-Life, Inc., a nonprofit pregnancy care ministry that offers free and confidential services to those facing an unplanned pregnancy.

“I did get pregnant my senior year, and therefore I’m unable to participate in a lot of the senior activities that my friends are getting to do,” Shelby Moore, the mother of 5-month-old Laura Leigh, told those in attendance prior to the walk. “I thought at first that it was going to be hard, but Ms. Jennifer [Dobbs, director of the local Sav-A-Life] has really helped me with that and I wouldn’t take back a day or give her up for anything.”

Although registration for the 2-mile walk was free, participants were sponsored by others in the community to raise money for pregnancy tests, options counseling and other services of the organization.

Dobbs said the purpose of the walk, which led supporters though Old Town, was to educate people on how abortions hurt women.

“Through this walk, we hope people learn that there are life options for women and when they find themselves facing a crisis pregnancy, that there’s a place that will help them choose life,” Dobbs said. “We hope to bring to the forefront that abortion is not a good choice; that there are other choices besides abortions.”

Already this year, the Selma branch of Sav-A-Life has given 54 free pregnancy tests, more than half of their total from last year, and had 27 salvations, Dobbs said.

“We don’t judge anyone or place any pressure on them,” Dobbs said. “We just want to educate them and help them become well-informed.”