Kansas City, Mo.- Another record breaking year.  The March of Dimes thanks the 6,569 registered motorcycle riders who attended the 10th Annual Bikers for Babies® RIDE on Sunday, September 12th.  Motorcycle enthusiasts packed Kansas Speedway raising more than $430,000.   For the third year, the Kansas City Bikers for Babies® RIDE ranks #1 in Kansas City and #1 among all 80 March of Dimes-benefit rides in the country.

Honorary Chair Johnny Dare from 98.9 The Rock and Gary Amble with KCTV 5 lead the 100-mile all Kansas route as enthusiastic crowds cheered and held signs as riders paraded past them.

Three years of Ambassador Families were brought on stage with their children, whom because of riders and the March of Dimes, are here today. Ella Ruth AuFranc a long-time supporter and donor of the March of Dimes since 1938 was also brought on stage and recognized.  Ella Ruth’s daughter contracted polio and utilized an iron lung for many, many years.  Ms. AuFranc still walks in the Kansas City WalkAmerica every year and has been a Grand Donor for 15 years.

Upon returning to Kansas Speedway, riders enjoyed lunch donated by Outback Steakhouse and performances by Ararat Motor Corps, Midwest Stunters performance, Dealers Expos, Peoples’ Choice Bike Show, Vintage Bike Display, Victory Lane Photos and the Mustang Dynamometer Shoot-Out. 

Motorcycle owners vied for trophies in the Peoples’ Choice Bike Show with Chuck Gibson winning best of show with his 2004 Custom Infinity motorcycle.  33 Grand Donors enjoyed riding their motorcycles for three laps around the Kansas Speedway track. The Top Donor is Ed Hale raising $25,365. Winner of the V-Rod donated by Worth Harley Davidson North was Gary Gilman of Olathe Kansas.  Event-related photos and details can be found at www.marchofdimeskc.org/biker.      

More than 66 years ago, the March of Dimes began funding research that successfully developed the polio vaccine.  Since then, the March of Dimes has focused its efforts toward the day when babies will no longer be born with birth defects and no longer be born premature so parents will no longer experience the tragedy of losing a child.  The motorcycle community has embraced this mission with fervor!

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a five-year campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at http://www.marchofdimes.com/ or its Spanish Web site at http://www.nacersano.org/.