7 yr-old Nia Brittain was 2lbs when born. Hard to tell she was a preemie. At March of Dimes,Bikers for Babies.@wtop pic.twitter.com/fXBCpM0nSg
— Kathy Stewart (@KStewartWTOP) October 10, 2015
Final group of "Bikers for Babies" March of Dimes riders arrive at Six Flags in Upper Marlboro. @wtop pic.twitter.com/jeLyPUwvdl
— Kathy Stewart (@KStewartWTOP) October 10, 2015
WASHINGTON – Nia Brittain was born 12 weeks early. Weighing, 2 pounds, she spent the first two months of her life in the neonatal intensive-care unit.
“I mean when you hear someone’s born at 2 pounds and to see her today, again, we’re blessed,” says her mother Alcenia Brittain. “And just can’t thank enough the organization that helped us through that journey, March of Dimes.”
On Saturday, bikers took to the road for the 12th annual the March of Dimes Bikers for Babies, which wrapped up this year’s ride at Six Flags in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
The event raised more than $50,000 to help save the lives of premature babies, according to Jennifer Abell, division director for Suburban Maryland March of Dimes. Abell says the money raised will go to local families through community grants.
Nia, who’s now 7, is a March of Dimes success story.
“She’s a daredevil, very outgoing, very athletic,” Alcenia Brittain says, laughing.
Nia’s father Leon Brittain was the chair of this year’s Bikers for Babies event and was one of the riders. He also is the founder and publisher of Throttle Life magazine and says that Nia’s passion for motorcycles probably comes from him. By the way, she has a pink dirt bike.
Leon Brittain says that when Nia was born, he almost lost his wife and daughter. “Thank God they’re both here with me today,” he says.
He said March of Dimes was there for them since “day one.”
“So, every year, I’m coming out to support them (March of Dimes) for this Bikers for Babies ride,” he said. “I will continue to pay it forward as long as I have breath in my body to do so and as long as I can twist the throttle.”
