Arizona - A local motorcycle club has been collecting toys for less fortunate children of Lake Havasu City for the past 25 years.
River Riders Motorcycle Club Havasu AZ celebrates 25 years of helping local children have a happy Christmas. This year's event is scheduled for Sunday, and will occur "rain or shine."
"Last year, we raised over $11,000 worth of toys," said Mike Miskowsky, vice president of River Riders Motorcycle Club Havasu AZ.
The first toy run the River Riders organized was in 1983 and approximately 60 riders joined to ride, Miskowsky said. Last year, approximately 850 motorcyclists, from towns and cities in the tri-state area, participated in the yearly toy run.
Miskowsky believes this year's event will draw at least 800 riders and counting passengers, maybe more. "Some (riders) have passengers, so there could be over a thousand people," he said.
River Riders M.C. invites all street legal motorcycles and trikes to participate in the event.
Vehicles are welcome to follow the procession or can meet the riders at the their final destination at Nancy's Pour House located at 2061 Swanson Ave. Motorcycle riders and other participants are required to arrive at the event with a new, unwrapped toy to donate.
"Anyone riding a motorcycle or driving a vehicle needs a toy to show up," Miskowsky said. Sports equipment, baseball bats and basketballs are good ideas. There are children of all ages who are in need of gifts. The older children are not necessarily interested in a toy truck or a fuzzy bear, he said.
The event begins at River Ratz located a half mile from Parker Dam at 3656 Riverside Drive in Parker. Riders are encouraged to arrive early, and breakfast is available beginning at 10 a.m. The annual toy run will commence promptly at noon.
Only 450 Toy Run event pins are available to early-arriving participants, the pins are $4 each. Proceeds from the sale of the event pins are donated to charity through Social Services Interagency Council of Lake Havasu City.
"The procession (of motorcyclists) is over two miles long," Miskowsky said.
The event requires River Riders to obtain a parade permit. Lake Havasu City Police Department, La Paz County Sheriff Office and Mohave County Sheriff Office law enforcement officers will help to clear the way of traffic for the event.
From Parker, the riders will travel north on State Route 95 to Lake Havasu City. The procession will turn right onto South McCulloch Boulevard and travel through town. The duration of the run is roughly an hour, Miskowsky said.
The final destination is Nancy's Pour House, where food and refreshments, door prizes and a 50/50 drawing will be available to event participants. A live band will also be playing at for the participants' entertainment.
Upon arriving at the final destination, toy donations will be collected by Interagency Council representatives. From there, Interagency Council will determine the children the toys will be gifted to.
Interagency Council president/CEO Rich Miers said, the toy run event supports Interagency Council's Christmas Adopt a Family program. The program is available to local families in need. The need is discovered through an application process and the family must income qualify, he said.
"We provide the family with a food box … the children are provided with toys and clothing. The toys come from the River Riders Toy Run," Miers siad
The toys collected from the River Riders 25th Annual Toy Run will reach the children chosen in time for Christmas.
River Riders M.C. is the second oldest motorcycle club in Arizona and was founded 30 years ago, in 1978, as a nonprofit organization, Miskowsky said. The club has since organized many events that benefit the less fortunate in the community.
Over the years, Interagency Food Bank, Western Arizona Humane Society and other community service-oriented programs offered by Interagency Council have benefited from the club's efforts.
For more information regarding the River Riders 25th Annual Toy Run, contact Miskowsky 566-7325 or visit www.RiverRidersMC.com on the Web for details.
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