Motorcycle run helps kids

[totalmotorcycle]

Motorcycle run helps kids
Tuesday, December 5, 2006 - By Joyce Godwin - Herald Democrat - heralddemocrat.com



One thousand motorcycles and 50 cars and trucks showed up to take a place in line for Sunday’s motorcycle run. The annual charity event, dubbed “For the Kids - big kids helping little kids,” now in its 12th year, brought in toys and stuffed animals to fill a bob-cat truck and $11,000 for the Salvation Army.

Local organizer Marquetta Mason reported there will be more money for the Salvation Army from Sunday’s event as soon as final expenses are tallied. Other organizers for the event are Robin Warfield, Stan Mason, Sparky and Rhonda Cox, Teresa Roberts, Scott Shimer, Woody and Debbie Frith and Mike Grove. Past events have brought in as much as $17,000 and more.

A letter from Capt. David Grigsbay of the local chapter for the Salvation Army, to participants, states the For The Kids organization has become a great partner for the SA. “They have worked harder and harder to bring in more money as well as food for the Salvation Army,” Grigsbay stated in his letter. “Last year, this parade of motorcycle enthusiasts brought toys and large monetary donations totaling over $12,000 to support the Salvation Army Christmas efforts. Because of their contribution, we were able to provide over 4,000 toys to hundreds of children in Grayson County who otherwise may not have had a ‘Merry’ Christmas. Toys, new clothing, food, and even gifts to the elderly in nursing homes were distributed to 5,079 individuals.”

Vehicles began arriving to the Lawrence Marshall Autoplex in mid-morning and were still driving in as the start-up warning siren sounded at 1 p.m. They came from as far away as Saint Jo, Nevada, Arlington, Edgewood, Denton and several points in Oklahoma. They came for the camaraderie of riding with other motorcyclists and to help support the Christmas effort for children who might not otherwise receive Christmas gifts or have Christmas dinner.

“There’s something about motorcycle riders,” Mike Grove of Bells said as he directed traffic. “You tell them it’s to help kids and they come running to help make a difference.”

Anthony Day along with daughter Ashley, 10, and Greg Lankford are some of those. They traveled to Denison from Gainesville to join the riders in For The Kids. Ashley said she didn’t mind riding in the cold. “It was 36 degrees when we left Gainesville,” Anthony Day said. When asked if she ever wished she hadn’t made the trip because of the cold, she said she never thought of it.


Tim Wilson of Bells came to the event with his son Kevin, 12. Kevin said he’s been riding motorcycles since May. Sunday, he rode behind his dad who’s a correctional officer for the state of Texas and works at the Bonham facility. Tim Wilson said, he hasn’t had a motorcycle for several years so this is his first time to participate in the toy run. Kevin said he loves helping with fund raisers and community service and he works regularly on other projects. The father-son pair said they raised money through cookie sales with Albertson’s in Denison and brought a $100-donation. “We didn’t work on it very long this year; it was a last-minute thing,” Tim Wilson said. “Next year we’ll start earlier and have a bigger donation.”

Among the others who were walking around and admiring the motorcycles were Shane Gaston and Stephanie Willis with son Amen Gaston, 2. They said, since they have Amen, they will join the parade of vehicles in the warmth of their truck. “We’ve been coming to this for years,” Willis said. “We love to see the kids on the side of the road waving us on and cheering.”

A group of motorcyclists from Whitewright were difficult to miss among the multitude of riders clad in black leather jackets and chaps. Don Miars showed up with a huge riding partner on his back seat. A large monkey stretched at least two feet above Miars’ head as the group rode into the lot. “It’s acting as a pretty good sail,” Miars said. “I had to tie his hands down to keep them from waving in the wind and blocking my rear view.”

Miars said he met a family in Bells who drove into a restaurant with the monkey tied to the top of their car. When he saw it he asked them where they got it and said he needed something like that for the toy run. Miars said he went on about his business and soon the family searched him out and said they wanted to donate the monkey for the charity. Miars is part of a national motorcycle group called Christian Motocyclists. His local chapter, Yeshua Riders, meets at Grandy’s at 6:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month. He said they attend as many functions like For the Kids as they can.

The parade of vehicles left Lawrence Marshall, went through Denison and south on Texoma Parkway. They turned in at Frisco Road and then went north on Texoma Parkway ending up at Susie Q’s on Woodard Street in downtown Denison. The city of Denison gave the charity permission to close off the 100 block of Woodard to allow parking for the motorcycles while the riders enjoyed a hot meal prepared by several committee members and volunteers.

“We all just got together and furnished brisquettes and chickens for cooking,” Scott Hall of Pottsboro said. “We’ve been cooking for two days and gathering everything up for a week. Somebody donated 140 pounds of chicken for today and I don’t even know who it was.” Bob Tobin of Mill Creek was also cooking for two days although he said it seemed like a week.

Susie Kincaid, owner of Susie Q’s said she’s been involved in the annual toy run for 12 years. “This is a place for motorcycle enthusiasts,” she said. “This is my main thing. I am so glad to provide a place for the lunch this year. What more can I say, it’s for the kids.”

That is a phrase echoed over and over throughout the event. “For the kids” seems to be the motivating mantra among the riders and one of which they never grow tire.

Anyone interested in contributing to the efforts of the toy run may contact Stan or Marquetta Mason 903-813-1311 or Robin Warfield 903-744-0857. It’s not too late to make a donation of canned goods, toys or cash.