They are the ones left behind when a parent becomes an American hero. On Saturday, a group of bikers took to the streets to raise money for the children of fallen soldiers. Tamara Lindstrom has the story.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

MARATHON, N.Y. -- The roar of motorcycles could be heard for miles as a pack of bikers made their way through Broome, Tioga, Tompkins and Cortland counties Saturday. But this was a ride with a purpose.

"It's plain and simple," said organizer Mike Grozier. "To help our soldiers. That's it."

The American Pride Ride 2 benefits the families of those who give their lives in battle.

"I can't imagine kids sitting at home and everyone's telling them their dad's a hero. And then all of a sudden the hero doesn't come home," Grozier said.

"We did this last year for the same organization," said organizer Sean King. "We had about 87 bikes last year."

This year, about 180 people rode the 90 miles through four counties and raised about $3,000 to give to the Children of Fallen Soldiers.

"Scholarships, living expenses, every day needs that we all take for granted sometimes," King said. "These kids don't have a parent on top of it."

The Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund was started in 2003 to help surviving children and spouses of U.S. military members who have lost their lives in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. It's a cause that moved these riders to organize.

"We're new. They're new. It's like a perfect match. We have the wars going on and it seemed like a great match for us," Grozier said.

It's an act of charity riders hope will grow.

"Hopefully ten years down the road, this turns into a little Sturgis in Endicott," King said. "Hopefully it will become humongous."

Allowing grateful citizens to repay the generosity of a fallen soldier.

The event may be over, but you can still donate to the relief fund.