Lana Robinson and Diane Leatherwood, from left, are planning to ride their motorcycles in the March of Dimes Peachtree Thunder Parade on Oct. 3. The motorcycle enthusiasts are nurses at Northside Hospital.

On Oct. 3, more than 2,000 motorcyclists are expected to roll through Atlanta for the March of Dimes Peachtree Thunder Parade. If their work schedules permit, two nurses from Northside Hospital, Lana Robinson, BSN, and Diane Leatherwood, RN, will be joining the bikers.

These motorcycle mamas ride for fun and charity, and The March of Dimes is a cause that revs up their engines. Its mission to prevent birth defects and infant mortality ties directly to their work.

Leatherwood is a nurse in the Special Care Nursery (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at Northside, while Robinson is a clinical supervisor in the high-risk pregnancy unit.

"You're dealing with some very stressed out and hormonal ladies who are trying to keep their babies [till closer to term], multiple births and about one emergency a day, but most of the time it's a positive experience," Robinson said. "You can see what you've done and it's very rewarding. Moms come back years later to show us pictures of their triplets."

Biking, flying a plane and watching her husband drag race are highadrenaline hobbies that help Robinson cope with stress. Riding the Blue Ridge Parkway and watching your husband's wheels spin out and him almost drive off the side of a mountain - now that's stressful, she said. "I felt totally helpless, and you know how nurses are fix-it kind of people."

Still, people find it hard to believe that she rides a 650 Honda Nighthawk.

"They always ask if I wear leathers and chaps. Sure do," she said with a laugh. "I guess it's hard to picture, since I'm 5 feet 4 inches tall and a grandmother with white hair and round red cheeks who looks like Mrs. Claus."

Leatherwood, who rides a 1994 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail, also gets surprised reactions and attributes it to stereotypes.

"People have this negative idea about bikers, but most of the ones I know are the nicest people you'd ever want to meet," she said.

Years ago, Leatherwood and her husband, William, started a biking club in Columbus that frequently rode for charities. He also helped organize the first March of Dimes ride in Columbus.

"Biking is relaxing," Leatherwood said. "It's kind of like therapy to have the breeze hit you as you drive along. I've been riding almost all my life and I love it."

The Atlanta parade will travel a 12-mile stretch of Peachtree Street from downtown Atlanta to Buckhead and back to the Lakewood Exhibition Center, with funds going to the Georgia Newborn Screen Program.