By Ron Cox

This year, more than 35,000 people will participate in March of Dimes events across the country. Bikers for Babies (B4B) allows riders and enthusiasts to demonstrate their support about the seriousness of premature birth, birth defects and infant mortality.

The Southwest Coast Division of the March of Dimes held its 12th Annual Bikers for Babies over the weekend of Oct.12-14. More than 1,300 riders and passengers registered to participate in the ride which covered 35 miles from Naples to Ft .Myers, raising more than $105,000. Other B4B rides will take place in Florida later in November in Jacksonville and Cocoa.

In this B4B’s the honor of leading the police escorted procession goes to the club that raises the most money the preceding year. Therefore the Ronin Riding Club led, followed by SW Florida HOG and The Chrome Divas, Ft.Myers/Cape Coral Chapter. Next year, the sequence will be the same as the Ronin Riding Club led the way again with more than $12,000 raised. Honors for being the individual raising the most money went to SWFL HOG’s Mary & Steve Robison who chipped in with more than $4,000.

Numerous sponsors stepped up; wanting to be involved led by H-D Ft.Myers, Arthrex, Suntrust Bank, Coca-Cola and Budweiser.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies through its Prematurity Campaign, and by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Research funds will be used to find out why 1 in 8 babies are born prematurely in the United States. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies.