Biker Community Rides to Raise Awareness - FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |

Leah Uko

Crescent, IA (KPTM) – Bikers toured eight towns to raise awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It spurred from a couple who lost their child to SIDS last August.

Normally they take weekend rides for enjoyment, but on Sunday a group of about 70 bikers road in honor of a 5-month-old baby.

"He was going to daycare there and he was supposed to be in the proper--taken care of properly," said Nick Thomas whose son died of SIDS. "

Nick and Alesha Thomas lost their son Lane last August to SIDS, which is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It's a case where a child under age one dies with no explainable cause.

"As a parent you hope that you know everything, but [sometimes] you don't," said Nick.

Since then, Nick and Alesha—along with some friends—started "MEMORY LANE Benefit Ride". They drive through Iowa raising awareness about preventing SIDS.

They've transformed the name "Lane" from a sad memory to an informative acronym.

L – Lay me on my back.

A – Always on a hard surface.

N – Never with pillows or blankets.

E – Everytime by everyone.

This is a procedure volunteer Renae Duff feels every parent should know.

"I think a lot of parents don't really realize how simple little things can make a big, big difference," said Duff. "Especially with babies and you think you kind of know I guess you just never know."

"It makes you realize that this can happen to anybody. It's not just, you know a lot of people think 'oh it can't happen to me' well it can happen to you," said Kari Ruffcorn who started the benefit ride.

Just in case it does they want parents to know it's partially preventative.

"There's so much that we want to give out there and we're just--this is the tip of the iceberg," said Nick.

Nick and Alesha said they will continue MEMORY LANE Ride every year with hopes their message will be as loud as the bikes they ride and will travel through communities just as they will.

Nick and Alesha have two daughters and a three-week old baby.