The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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October 10, 2009

Your View — Community worked together for Pregnant Pause

Kari Fletcher, Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (www.mofas.org)

Mankato is in a region of the country with a very high rate of binge alcohol use among women in their child bearing years and an estimated 1 in 100 babies are born each year in our area permanently affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol. Thankfully this problem is one that our community can solve by working together.

For the past five years the Pregnant Pause event has been an effort by local community organizations to celebrate nine months of an alcohol-free pregnancy and to raise awareness of about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).

The Mankato Pregnant Pause has been the largest event of its kind in the state, and probably in the nation, because of committed and passionate sponsors like Mankato Clinic, ISJ Auxiliary, Radio Mankato and Blue Earth County Community Health, as well as dozens of generous local donors and dedicated volunteers.

This year bartenders from Pub 500, Busters, Hott Shotts and Applebees competed in the non-alcoholic drink contest and encouraged women to go out and have fun during pregnancy but to take a pause from their alcohol use for those nine months.

Congratulations to Pub 500 whose bartender took home the trophy and cash prize and thank you to the other bars and local vendors for their support of this event! And a special thank you to the more than 400 community members who attended this year and to Mayor John Brady for his support.

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