One in eight babies in Arkansas is born prematurely.
So, despite the weather, hundreds of bikers rolled into the Rock to help.
It's the 13th year of Bikers for Babies. This year the event was renamed Farmer's Insurance Rev Your Engine for Babies Drive in honor of the largest corporate partnership in the history of March of Dimes in Arkansas.
The loud bikes are hard to ignore. So is the charitable impact.
It was a great day of food, music, fun and of course fellowship with the bikers, the children and parents. Normally they have around 2500 bikes. This year the rain put a damper on things and the number was much closer to 500. However, some of these bikers drove through the rain from as far away as Jonesboro.
Bob Robbins, Radio Host for KSSN 96 FM, out in his Gold Wing, "Oh, I am going to be here if the good Lord's willing and the creeks don't rise too high."
The day is all about the children. Children like little Devon. Devon was born four and a half weeks premature. He weighed just four pounds.
Dani Collins, Devon Walker's sister says, "He was little. I could put him in the palm of my hand and he could sit up."
Angela Collins, his mother, remembers seeing him covered in IV's and how she wasn’t able to hold him, “It was hard leaving the hospital without him."
Dani says, "That was your birthday present that year."
Angela remembers, "I got to take him home on my birthday."
Today Devin is a healthy two year old. Angela says, "He is perfect now, you can see. He just goes and goes and goes."
In 2000 the Taylor family gave birth to twins Grace and Will. They were born at 29 weeks. Grace weighed just over three pounds. Will weighed less than two pounds. Sadly, Will passed away at six days old. Sherry Taylor, their Mother, says, "It's hard. Because, Grace, on a regular basis expresses to us that she misses him."
Her experience inspired her to become a nurse to help other premature babies, "That's kind of a coping mechanism for me. Because, I feel like I am honoring him by taking care of babies. And, giving them medical attention and love, lot's of love!"
