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.

GREENSBORO -- Grandparents from across the state and country are in Washington, D.C. Thursday for the fourth annual Grand Rally. They hope to raise awareness about the lack of support they receive, in contrast to the foster care system, to raise grandchildren.

Across North Carolina, tens of thousands of grandparents are raising their grandchildren. They say they gladly take on the role as the primary caregiver, but are hoping to gain some of the same support afforded to foster parents.

Groups of grandparents left from Guilford County and New Hanover County Thursday heading to Washington. They say once there, they'll joins other grandparents from across the state and country to raise awareness about the hardships of raising their grandchildren.

Organizers say in many cases, the seniors are on a fixed income and the additional expenses can be tough to manage. They're hoping to get many of the same rights foster parents have.

"Everybody agrees that the best placement is for children is with relatives because they keep the families together," said Sarah Harper. "But when they're placed with relatives, we're not privy to the same resources as foster parents. We don't even get respite, so ours is 24/7."

Harper said in the state there are more than 85,000 grandparents raising their grandchildren and over the last few years they've seen those numbers on the rise thanks to the struggling economy.

While in D.C. they hope to meet with legislators and talk to them about their challenges and encourage more support from the government.