Bikers donate toys, more than $14,000 to children's home
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November 28, 2009 9:50 PM
Laura Oleniacz
Sun Journal Staff
On the grassy shoulder of an overpass overlooking U.S. 70, Ron and Sarah DeGeare sat and watched hundreds of bikers in black leather ride by on motorcycles on their way to deliver toys and money to the Kennedy Home for children in Kinston.
DeGeare is a member of the local chapter of the Harley Owners Group that organized the 17th annual Toy Run, and he had planned to take his daughter Sarah, 16, for her first motorcycle ride on Saturday. But he recently had surgery, so the two sat on the hill to watch the procession led by Santa Claus and the N.C. Highway Patrol.
“The only thing we’re missing is popcorn and soda,” DeGeare said.
The Toy Run drew about 800 riders on about 600 motorcycles to ride 38 miles to Kinston from the Harley-Davidson of New Bern dealership, which sponsors the local Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) chapter.
The annual ride is a fundraiser for the Kennedy Home. This year the ride raised $14,669 for the home, in addition to providing toys for the children for Christmas, said Tom Linton, who helped coordinate the event for the H.O.G. chapter.
To raise money for the ride and for other charities, the chapter bought a motorcycle from the dealership and raffled it off. Each rider also had to donate $10, or provide a gift card or a toy to participate in the Toy Run.
Mary Bender, president of the H.O.G. chapter, said that last year the Toy Run raised more than $7,000 for the Kennedy Home just from the ride donations and gift cards. The turnout was down last year because it was raining, but she had high expectations Saturday because the sun was shining before the event.
“It’ll bring a tear to your eye because you know you’re supporting children who may not be as fortunate as you are,” said Bender, as she stood in the parking lot of the dealership where the motorcyclists were lining up before the ride. “This is our ‘Merry Christmas’ to them.”
Chuck Michonski rode with about seven others from the American Legion Riders Greenville Post 39. He said he rides because he sees it as an expression of freedom. Michonski is a Vietnam War veteran, and was stationed at Fort Bragg.
“We all fought for freedom, and this is a freedom that we really enjoy,” he said.
Michonski owns a house in Vermont and one in North Carolina, and he said he splits his time between them so he can continue to ride his motorcycle even in the winter months.
In Vermont at this time of year, the ponds are already frozen, he said. By Christmas there can be a foot of snow on the ground “or better,” and the snow accumulates until March or April.
“It was up to the windows last year,” he said. “You don’t want to ride a bike in that — if it’ll start.”
Riding with Michonski on Saturday was Ayden resident Russell Wolfe.
Wolfe rode with his sister Sherry Radliff, who came down from New York for Thanksgiving and to ride with Wolfe in the Toy Run.
“It’s helping kids, and I just love the sound of the motorcycle,” Radliff said.
Wolfe said he enjoys the barbecue at the Kennedy Home at the end of the ride. In the past, he’s even given rides to the children there.
“They loved it — that was as good a Christmas present as you can get them,” he said.
Harlowe resident Jerry Sanford and his 15-year-old daughter, Naasha, have participated in the Toy Run together for about 10 years.
“It kind of became a tradition for us to come every year,” Naasha said, explaining that she sits on the back of the motorcycle, listens to her music, and enjoys the wind and the smells of the passing landscape.
“It’s awesome,” she said.
Trenton resident Frank Roark rode with his son Brent, 9, arriving at the Harley dealership with a gift of two board games for the Kennedy Home children.
Roark said Saturday’s Toy Run was the first of four rides he plans to participate in during the holiday season, since all four of his children want to ride with him on a toy run.
“They love to ride and help other kids,” he said.
Laura Oleniacz can be reached at 252-635-5675 or at loleniacz@freedomenc.com.
Comments 3 | Recommend 0
November 28, 2009 9:50 PM
Laura Oleniacz
Sun Journal Staff
On the grassy shoulder of an overpass overlooking U.S. 70, Ron and Sarah DeGeare sat and watched hundreds of bikers in black leather ride by on motorcycles on their way to deliver toys and money to the Kennedy Home for children in Kinston.
DeGeare is a member of the local chapter of the Harley Owners Group that organized the 17th annual Toy Run, and he had planned to take his daughter Sarah, 16, for her first motorcycle ride on Saturday. But he recently had surgery, so the two sat on the hill to watch the procession led by Santa Claus and the N.C. Highway Patrol.
“The only thing we’re missing is popcorn and soda,” DeGeare said.
The Toy Run drew about 800 riders on about 600 motorcycles to ride 38 miles to Kinston from the Harley-Davidson of New Bern dealership, which sponsors the local Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) chapter.
The annual ride is a fundraiser for the Kennedy Home. This year the ride raised $14,669 for the home, in addition to providing toys for the children for Christmas, said Tom Linton, who helped coordinate the event for the H.O.G. chapter.
To raise money for the ride and for other charities, the chapter bought a motorcycle from the dealership and raffled it off. Each rider also had to donate $10, or provide a gift card or a toy to participate in the Toy Run.
Mary Bender, president of the H.O.G. chapter, said that last year the Toy Run raised more than $7,000 for the Kennedy Home just from the ride donations and gift cards. The turnout was down last year because it was raining, but she had high expectations Saturday because the sun was shining before the event.
“It’ll bring a tear to your eye because you know you’re supporting children who may not be as fortunate as you are,” said Bender, as she stood in the parking lot of the dealership where the motorcyclists were lining up before the ride. “This is our ‘Merry Christmas’ to them.”
Chuck Michonski rode with about seven others from the American Legion Riders Greenville Post 39. He said he rides because he sees it as an expression of freedom. Michonski is a Vietnam War veteran, and was stationed at Fort Bragg.
“We all fought for freedom, and this is a freedom that we really enjoy,” he said.
Michonski owns a house in Vermont and one in North Carolina, and he said he splits his time between them so he can continue to ride his motorcycle even in the winter months.
In Vermont at this time of year, the ponds are already frozen, he said. By Christmas there can be a foot of snow on the ground “or better,” and the snow accumulates until March or April.
“It was up to the windows last year,” he said. “You don’t want to ride a bike in that — if it’ll start.”
Riding with Michonski on Saturday was Ayden resident Russell Wolfe.
Wolfe rode with his sister Sherry Radliff, who came down from New York for Thanksgiving and to ride with Wolfe in the Toy Run.
“It’s helping kids, and I just love the sound of the motorcycle,” Radliff said.
Wolfe said he enjoys the barbecue at the Kennedy Home at the end of the ride. In the past, he’s even given rides to the children there.
“They loved it — that was as good a Christmas present as you can get them,” he said.
Harlowe resident Jerry Sanford and his 15-year-old daughter, Naasha, have participated in the Toy Run together for about 10 years.
“It kind of became a tradition for us to come every year,” Naasha said, explaining that she sits on the back of the motorcycle, listens to her music, and enjoys the wind and the smells of the passing landscape.
“It’s awesome,” she said.
Trenton resident Frank Roark rode with his son Brent, 9, arriving at the Harley dealership with a gift of two board games for the Kennedy Home children.
Roark said Saturday’s Toy Run was the first of four rides he plans to participate in during the holiday season, since all four of his children want to ride with him on a toy run.
“They love to ride and help other kids,” he said.
Laura Oleniacz can be reached at 252-635-5675 or at loleniacz@freedomenc.com.
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