31st Annual Shriners Toy Run

It’s the mother of motorcycle parades and it benefits children.

I’m talking about the Portland, Oregon annual Toy Run this Saturday (December 4th) which benefits children at OHSU’s Dornbecker Children’s Hospital.

The major organizer and motorcycle advocacy group for the event is ABATE and this year will mark 31 years.  In previous year’s turnout there have been thousands of riders, but more important are the toys collected for sick kids.  The Toy Run brings together Harleys, Hondas, clubbers, and even the occasional Vespa scooter.  The ABATE members hold a motorcycle raffle to help raise money for the hospital and shortly after noon the police will escort riders followed by a Tri-Met bus full of toys to the Shriners Hospital.

See you there…

Photo courtesy of ABATE.

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Motorcycle Road Food

When traveling the open road it’s important to grab a snack in order to maintain driving alertness level.

I’m not talking about a SlimJim or a can of Vienna sausages and a cracker here.  Rather, a big stack of buttermilk pancakes augmented with some eggs, link sausage, bacon, fried potatoes, cat head biscuits smothered in gravy and a large glass of OJ.

Fortunately, today is flap-jack-pot at IHOP restaurants where any guest can request a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes until 10pm tonight.  Why?  It’s IHOP National Pancake Day.  The day dates back several centuries to when the English prepped for fasting during Lent.  Strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk, butter and other dairy products… hence the name Pancake Tuesday.  As part of the IHOP event, patrons are invited to make a donation to Shriners Hospitals for Children which last year the benefit raised $1.5 million nationwide.

Ride, drive or walk in for your free pancakes and help contribute to a good cause.

Photo courtesy of IHOP.

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30th Annual Shriners Toy Run

This 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.

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Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own

The title is reference to the U2 song, but it’s fitting for the ABATE/Shriners Toy Run which is this Saturday, December 5, 2009.

Rider participation reached new highs last year with more than 6400 motorcycles participating in the toy run and bringing generous levels of donations for needy kids.

The weather looks like it will be most cooperative and I look forward to seeing you on the ride.  More information is available on the ABATE web HERE.

Photo courtesy of ABATE.

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Shriners Hospital Toy Run

Are you riding in this Saturday’s (Dec 6th) ABATE Toy Run?  The experience of bringing a new toy to give to a deserving kid is one that will be unforgettable and shouldn’t be missed.

The event is put on by ABATE of Oregon who have been behind this activity for years to help the Shriners Hospital.  Sure there will be chromed up bikes and a Biker Santa, but the cool part (other than making a kid smile!) of the event is the parade ride and having streets blocked off by LE as you wind through the city.

Riders will start gathering about 10 a.m. at the Tri-Met parking lot at 4012 S.E. 17th Ave. Raffle tickets ($10) for a chance to win a Harley-Davidson will be sold there. The drawing will be at noon, and then a ride to deliver toys to the Portland Shriners Hospital for Children will begin about 12:30 p.m. 

The Sunset HOG chapter is meeting up at Paradise Harley-Davidson at 9:30am and will ride to the Tri-Met staging area.

See you there!

UPDATE: December 8th – See the result of the toy run HERE.

Poster courtesy of the ABATE web site.

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Motorcyclists Deliver Hope

I missed this over the weekend, but wanted to provide a shout out after the fact.  Details are available in a great article from Tom Hallman Jr., of The Oregonian on the Musician’s Toy Run Benefit Concert which was held this past Saturday. 

The event was put on by ABATE of Oregon.  It’s nice to see/read a positive news article about bikers.  Both Art West (Brothers Speed MC) and Mike Friend (ABATE Chaplain) provided inspiring quotes along with perspectives on the type of help ABATE has been behind over the years with the Shriners Hospital.

Note that on December 6th the Toy Run for the Portland Shriners Hospital will occur. The public is welcome. Riders will start gathering about 10 a.m. at the TriMet parking lot at 4012 S.E. 17th Ave. Raffle tickets ($10) for a chance to win a Harley-Davidson will be sold there. The drawing will be at noon, and then a ride to deliver toys to the Portland Shriners Hospital for Children will begin about 12:30 p.m.  More information and updates will be posted on the event calendar HERE.

The ABATE/Shriners Toy Run has been in existence since December 1980.  ABATE is a not-for-profit motorcycle organization devoted to raising member and public awareness about motorcycle issues and safety through education and community involvement.

It’s a great example of motorcycle riders doing a lot of good in/for the community!

Poster courtesy of ABATE web site.

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