Winona March for Choice Coalition organizers have planned and recruited a delegation of 70 people to attend “Save Women’s Lives: March for Freedom of Choice” April 25 in Washington D.C.

“The March for Women’s Lives is for pro-choice Americans who are tired of the government intruding on their private medical decisions,” Mary Fanning, Winona March for Choice Coalition co-founder, said.

Fanning, said that she and Sarah Ferden formed the coalition and have been planning for the march for over a year.

Fanning said the coalition includes the National Abortion and Reproductive Life Action League Pro Choice Minnesota, The Feminist Majority Faction, National Organization of Women and American Civil Liberties Union.

Fanning said they have recruited 70 marchers total, which include Winona State University students, faculty, community members and even high school students.

“Seventy people are really pleasing and incredible for a conservative community like Winona,” Fanning said. “The marchers are predominately Winona State students but there are six faculty members including Tamara Berg, director of women studies.”

“After the march we will head back straight away from Washington so students and faculty would not miss more than one day of classes,” Fanning said. “We will probably arrive on Monday sometime in the afternoon.”

Fanning said that fundraisers for this big event have been held over the past year, which included selling T-shirts, holding concerts and a play called “That Takes Ovaries,” in Somsen auditorium. For more on the play, see the story “Ovaries celebrates brazen women” on Page 5.

Fanning said they have made over $2,000 in fund raising and are trying to keep the price per head to less than $120.

“We have done great in raising funds but we are still trying to keep the cost efficient for everyone,” Fanning said.

“There will be over a million pro-choice marchers that will gather at the national mall at 10 am on April 25,” Fanning said.

Fanning said the march begins at noon and it will go for  8 blocks to the national monument.

“There will also be surprise speakers and celebrity appearances at the march,” Fanning said. “So far I only know that Helen Hunt would be one of the many celebrities joining in this march.”