Chrome Divas show a softer side

ADAMS CENTER — Harley-Davidsons and diapers: It's a strange pairing, to be sure. But on Saturday, bikers from around the north country will get revved up to help babies.

Sponsored this year by the north country's all-women Chrome Divas motorcycle club, the annual Bikers for Babies charity ride will raise money to benefit infants in need.

"The Chrome Divas are a brand new bike club and this is the first time in New York that an all-female bike organization has led the charge in the area," said Mary M. Sawyer, the club's public relations officer. "We were thinking, 'who better to raise money for babies than a bunch of moms?'"

Funds raised by Bikers for Babies support nearly $1 million in national research grants at Syracuse and Cornell universities as well as community program grants at Upstate Medical University. The event is a subsidiary of the fundraising and educational foundation March of Dimes.

"March of Dimes is an organization that helps babies born with birth defects or babies that need immediate neonatal care," Ms. Sawyer said. "It does many things to raise money and this is just one of them."

According to the nonprofit March for Dimes's Web site, the organization's mission "is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. We carry out this mission through research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies' lives."

The Bikers for Babies ride will have about 10 different starting points in upstate New York, including Iron Block Harley-Davidson in Adams Center.

"We are expecting to take at least 100 bikes with us and meet up with 700 to 800 bikes in Chittenango," Ms. Sawyer said, adding that the bikers' subsequent stop will be Syracuse. "We'll all converge in Jamesville."

Each biker who participates in the ride has raised pledge money to participate.

"Everybody who rides gives out donation sheets so people can sponsor them in the ride," Rennia L. Taylor, the Chrome Divas' Bikers for Babies contact person, said.

According to Ms. Taylor, past north country Bikers for Babies rides have raised $160,000 to $180,000. Because of the recession, the goal has been set for $100,000 this year.

In addition to the Northern New York ride, Bikers for Babies is also hosting rides on Long Island and in Albany. The north country ride may kick off with some local beneficiaries of past fundraising efforts by March of Dimes.

"A couple of the members of our group were going to try to get some babies and children who have been helped locally by March of Dimes," Ms. Sawyer said.

Any interested bikers can simply show up at Iron Block, 17890 Goodnough St., with a $25 donation. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the ride starts at 10 a.m.

For more information, visit http://bikersforbabies.org.