Expect delays during Bikers For Babies ride
The 10th annual March of Dimes Bikers For Babies benefit ride will roll, roar and rumble through Fort Myers Beach from roughly 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 7. Expect the north-traveling caravan of motorcycles, which will be escorted by police officials from both the Collier County and Lee County Sheriff’s Offices, to be causing traffic delays along Estero Boulevard during some part of that time frame.
March of Dimes Executive Director Norma Eveland, who will riding her motorcycle for the first time in the event’s 10 years, said the convoy will be coming from Naples across US 41 on Bonita Beach Road through Fort Myers Beach and up San Carlos Boulevard and MacGregor Boulevard to Colonial Boulevard to end at the Harley Davidson of Fort Myers. The nonprofit organization will collect $30 from each biker and $20 for each passenger for the cause.
“We will be leaving the North Collier Regional Water Park at 11 a.m.,” said Eveland, who pointed out the speed of the ride will be only 25-30 MPH. “We have close to 2,000 bikers participating in the event this year, depending on weather.”
Eveland stated motorcyclists are generous when it comes to this annual event. Thousand of bikers are compassionate about the March of Dimes.
“It’s targeting another demographic that we don’t particularly target with our walk or our signature chef’s auction,” said Eveland. “Being a biker myself, I know the generosity of that community and how they all pull together. We have a lot of great groups that participate in the ride. It just seemed like a fun thing to do when we began the event.”
The ride is the culmination of a full weekend of Bikers for Babies events including Harley Bike Nights in Naples Friday and Fort Myers Saturday.
“We’ll be having bands playing as well as vendors and food and refreshments at both events,” said Eveland. “On Saturday, we’ll have a bike show at 2 p.m. The times for the Saturday events at Harley Davidson in Fort Myers are from 2-10 p.m.”
Eveland said Bikers for Babies brought in $130,000 for March of Dimes charities last year. Millions of babies have been saved from death or disability due to the contributions and advances made by March of Dimes-funded scientists.
“March of Dimes is the only national organization that helps mother and babies,” said Eveland. “Right now, our main focus is to reduce premature births which have increased 28 percent since 1980. We’re also trying to make sure that women are educated to stay healthy before they become pregnant.”
The history of the March of Dimes motorcycle ride can be traced to 1992 in Atlanta, according to Eveland. If interested in being part of the ride for the fundraiser, sign up online or contribute at www.bikersforbabies.org. Go to www.bikersforbabiesflorida.com for more information.
“It great feeling to have all these people come together for a great cause,” said Eveland. “I’m really excited to be able to participate in it.”