6,000 Riders- 28degrees- 30Years for Shriners Hospital for Children

30th Annual Shriners Toy Run

December 7, 2009 by mac

2009 Shriners Children Hospital Toy RunThis past Saturday was Portland’s annual Shriners Children Hospital Toy Run.

The major organizer and motorcycle advocacy group for the event is ABATE and this year marks 30 years.

The weather was dry, but it was cold. In fact, the temp gauge registered a new low (28 degrees) on the motorcycle. As I left the neighborhood I noticed leaving tire tracks on the frost covered asphalt. I met up with the posse for breakfast and the main roads had already received a quick spray of glycol-based de-icers on the overpasses and bridges. By the time we finished breakfast and drove toward the Tri-Met parking lot the frost had mostly evaporated.

This year’s turnout was nearly as large as last which brought out more than 6,000 riders. But, more importantly it’s a lot of toys collected for sick kids. The Toy Run brings together Harleys, Hondas, clubbers, and even the occasional Vespa. The ABATE members held a motorcycle raffle to help raise money for the hospital and shortly after noon the police escorted riders followed a Tri-Met bus full of toys to the Shriners Hospital.

It was a great toy run and I want to provide a major shout out to the organizers and sponsors: ABATE; Tri-Met; Paradise H-D; Latus H-D; Columbia H-D; Thunder Mountain MC Rescue; Star Rentals; Megan James Band; H.O.G.; Schulz Clearwater.

For More history on this Run go to nwhog.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/30th-annual-shriners-toy-run/
Thanks for the Story Mac.