Why We Ride
Nationwide, people are riding to save babies
The March of Dimes has had the generous support of the motorcycle community since 1994 when the first Bikers for Babies® benefit ride took place in Atlanta. With your continued support, we can help more babies be born healthy. Raise money, get on your bike and ride! Know the power of riding to save babies.Why does this event inspire so many people?
Riders know it's for the babies! They want all babies to get a healthy start. Bikers for Babies® allows riders and motorcycle lovers to promote their support for the March of Dimes mission while educating family and friends about the seriousness of premature birth, birth defects and infant mortality. You can help the March of Dimes find the causes of premature birth and birth defects by registering for the Kansas City Bikers for Babies!Meet our 2011 Ambassador Maggie!
Ken and Bridget Swearingen knew the process of having their daughter Maggie wasn't going to be easy. The couple had already suffered the loss of their son, William, when he was born at 25 weeks weighing 2 lbs 3 oz. After William was born, doctors discovered Bridget had both HELLP Syndrome and Preeclampsia. Both are potentially life-threatening conditions for mother and baby characterized by dangerously high blood pressure.
Despite careful monitoring during her next pregnancy, Bridget again developed HELLP Syndrome and Eclampsia fully set in, requiring Maggie to be delivered by an emergency C-section. Maggie was born at 27 weeks, weighing 2 lbs 1 oz. She was immediately taken to the NICU where a nasogastric feeding tube and PICC line, a semi-permanent type of IV, were inserted for the first month. At birth, Maggie also had a heart valve that had not completely closed. Thankfully this was corrected by medication and she did not need surgery to repair it. After two months in the NICU, Maggie was able to go home close to her original due date, weighing 4 lbs 8 oz!
Thanks to research and treatments developed from March of Dimes research, today Maggie is a happy and healthy 5-year-old girl. Come meet Maggie and her family at Bikers for Babies on September 18 at Kansas Speedway.
The Swearingen Family – Ken, Bridget and Maggie
2011 Kansas City March of Dimes Ambassadors
