LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Farmers Insurance agents, district managers, and employees will bike for healthy babies in March of Dimes RIDE for babies, the ‘Ride that Saves Lives.’ Farmers Insurance Group is a national sponsor of the March of Dimes.

Held in seven cities, including Little Rock, more than 40,000 motorcycle riders will take to the roads to raise an expected $450,000 for the March of Dimes. The Arkansas ride will be held Sept. 9 at 11:30 am CT at the Arkansas State Capitol.

“This is the first year Farmers has sponsored a motorcycle ride for babies,” said Jim Westerman, Senior Vice President of Sales for Farmers Insurance Group. “We’ve been in partnership with the March of Dimes for more than 20 years, and thought we would ‘rev’ our fundraising engine this year.” Westerman continued, “One in eight babies is born prematurely and the dollars raised by this ride go to help those babies get a healthier start.”

Farmers is one of the top contributors to the March of Dimes, raising more than $4.2 million in 2007.

“These rides will allow us to reach an all new group of people to help us in our fight to end prematurity,” said Paul N. Hopkins, Chief Executive Office of Farmers Group Inc. “We’re proud to join the March of Dimes in its mission, while having some fun at the same time.”

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies, and in 2003 launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish-language Web site at nacersano.org.

Farmers Group, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Financial Services, an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America, and other markets. Farmers® is the nation’s third-largest Personal Lines Property & Casualty insurance group. Headquartered in Los Angeles and doing business in 41 states, the insurers comprising the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies provide Homeowners, Auto, Business, Life insurance, and financial services to more than 10 million households. For more information about Farmers, visit our Web site at www.farmers.com.