.
. . are
the words and principles behind the organizers of this charitable event which
has been held annually since 1980. Toys
for Tots’ committee members from the Delaware Valley Chapter of
A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania begin planning in February for this LARGEST MOTORCYCLE PARADE IN
THE WORLD which brings gifts and goodwill to the Children’s Hospital of
Philadelphia and its affiliates. Their
goal - cheering up sick youngsters.
Most
of our children are physically healthy and able to enjoy and participate in many
activities like sporting and cultural events, parties and family gatherings.
Now imagine how different those experiences might be if your child, or a
child close to you, were challenged with a serious illness... a child confined
to a hospital bed or slowed by crutches or a wheelchair... a child separated
from friends and family... a child who spends lonely nights with little to hope
for. “Our goal is to provide a
vital outlet for children suffering with pain and depression associated with the
stress and isolation of critically serious illnesses,” said Domenick Sciole,
Chairman of the Toys for Tots Committee. The
event is “FOR THE KIDS” - a phrase
coined by Dom and known by most to signify this Christmas program which takes
the form of a motorcycle cruise through the city of Philadelphia.
Toys
for Tots’ participants made their first run on December 13, 1980 from a
parking lot at Broad Street and Cheltanham Avenue.
Approximately 50 motorcycles tooled city streets following the lead of
Mike Horton and Denny Waldman, the chapter’s president and treasurer,
respectively, who conceived the idea to dispel the bikers’ “bad guy”
image.
Since
that first run, the charitable endeavors of this premier program have grown in
gargantuan proportions. The joy of
Christmas is now brought to these children and their families through a showing
of over 62,000 motorcycles and with the number of donated toys exceeding 100,000
in count!
Through
the years, as notoriety of this successful toy collection has expanded, so has
the wealth of support. Celebrities
such as the Honorable
Seamus P. McCaffery, the Mayor of Philadelphia, State Representative Teresa Forcier, the
Philly Phanatic, Santa Claus, recording artist Meatloaf, and actor
Randall
“Tex” Cobb, have given their time and talent to endorse our event.
The number of sponsors has increased while their promotional initiatives
and generous contributions continue to play important roles in our campaigning
efforts. And “bikers” now hail
from all states of the Mid-Atlantic Region.
They arrive riding solo, in groups of 5 to 50, and in masses as large as
150! They arrive riding
personalized machines of every make and model, sporting leathers, displaying
tattoos, looking burley and bad, all of which belie the caring, compassionate,
and kind individuals they are.
But
despite the change in size and recognition, one thing has remained constant
through the years: to bring the joy
of Christmas to the children and a smile to their faces.
“If we can help take a kid’s attention away from his illness or pain
for even five minutes, then we’ve accomplished something,” said Santa Claus,
also known as Tony Graessle of Southwest Philadelphia. After all, it’s “FOR
THE KIDS!”
**********
|
Hello All 2008 , Case in point, earlier this year when Dylan was in for 5 weeks of treatment, he told his nurse that it was his big brothers birthday. The nurse came back from "where ever" with a present for Dylan to give to his big brother. Yesterday, once again I witnessed the little heroes in the CHOP lobby watching all those "big bad bikers" walk through with hearts bigger then a gas tank. To see these children smile like that makes this ride one of the most important rides of the year.
This all could not have been possible
without the efforts of ABATE. Again, great job to all those that
volunteered to make this day the success it most certainly turned out to
be. |
America's Largest Rolling Toy Run
