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Cynthia Mendoza greets the passing riders as they motor along Mall Drive on Sunday. The more than 1,500 riders and passengers on an estimated 1,200 motorcycles participated in this years Las Cruces Toys for Kids Ride.Sun-News photo by Norm DettlaffReprinted from Las Cruces Sun-News November 25, 2002 |
Bikers support charities
By Karen Boehler
Sun-News
The rumble of Harley Davidsons, whine of BMWs and quiet purr of a variety of Japanese motorcycle brands filled the air at the Mesilla Valley Mall Sunday morning, as the 22nd annual Las Cruces Toys for Kids Ride rolled out of the mall parking lot, headed for Dickersons Event Center on the other side of town.
Organizers agree that this years event is the biggest ever, with an estimated 1,200 motorcycles and more than 1,500 riders and passengers coming together to make Christmas a little brighter for less fortunate families in Doa Ana County.
Toy rides are nothing special for motorcycle enthusiasts " groups around the country host rides to gather toys and raise money for charity.
But the Las Cruces run has been going on continuously for 22 years, despite enduring several changes of organizers.
"Its kind of changed hands," said Mack Adams, a committee member with the group currently organizing the run. "Various groups have kind of organized this event, and about six or seven years ago, we picked it up, and were not a group, were just a group of individuals who didnt want to see this thing fold. And we literally, in about a month, put together a run, and weve been doing it ever since, because we cant let it die."
It certainly didnt die, as riders from as far away as Albuquerque, Silver City and El Paso started rolling into the mall parking lot early Sunday morning.
11:30 a.m., when registration closed, the parking lot behind the J.C. Penneys was jam-packed with motorcycles of every make and model, and their riders ran the gamut from leather-bedecked Harley riders to sport-bike riders in high-tech custom suits.
Santa Claus was also there " in several incarnations.
L.T. Williams of Las Cruces, who normally rides a Honda Gold Wing, led off the parade in a specially painted sleigh pulled by a flame-red 1951 Chevrolet pickup.
The Santa in sunglasses was joined in the sleigh by Miss Teen New Mexico USA, Courtney Clayshulte, a Mesilla Valley Christian School student, and a bevy of other beauties.
Glenn Wagner of El Paso was also dressed as Santa, with girlfriend Lori Strauss, who wandered the crowd passing out candy canes, along as Mrs. Claus.
The two were astride a decorated Harley Davidson that was pulling a small sleigh full of toys.
Wagner, an instructor at the Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss, only started riding about three years ago, but now travels to about 10 toy runs each year.
"Its all for the children," he said. "Thats what it really comes down to, is people donating their time to help the children."
Dolores Diaz, who rode pillion on another Harley, was dressed as the Pink Panther.
Other riders had reindeer horns attached to their helmets, and Santa hats abounded.
Three-year-old Patrick Mendoza of Las Cruces was probably the youngest driver in the crush of motorcycles, cruising the parking lot on a childs version of a Police Special Harley Davidson.
Nine-year-old Peter Garcia, a student at Doa Ana Elementary, was riding a miniature version of a chopper " a homemade motorcycle with a 250 cc engine from a Honda three-wheeler, a few Harley parts and a "bunch of home made stuff."
Although hes too young to ride on the street normally, Garcias bike was "parade legal" and he joined the crowd of full-sized motorcycles for the seven-mile long ride.
And almost every bike had a toy or two strapped to the seat or carefully nestled in its saddlebags, waiting to be delivered to volunteers at rides end.
The riders milled about, checking out the bikes and enjoying each others company until just before noon, when the motorcycles began roaring to life.
At 12 p.m. sharp, accompanied by an almost deafening roar, Santas sleigh headed toward Telshor, led by a pair of police bikes and followed by almost five miles of motorcycles, riding side-by-side.
One state police officer said that as the final bikes left the mall, the lead officers and sleigh were already turning on to Picacho.
Officers from the Las Cruces Police Department, Doa Ana County Sheriffs Department, state police and mounted patrol escorted the parade in front and back, and ran traffic control at intersections, as the parade proceeded south on Telshor, west on University, north on Valley and west on Picacho.
Almost every motorcycle officer in the county was present, along with others in cars.
And all along the route, crowds of spectators waved at the riders as they went past, while youngsters collected candy that was tossed from the motorcycles.
Individuals watched and waved from their back yards, while workers at various businesses " including Memorial Medical Center, motels along Valley and a trucking firm " were out en masse.
The entire congregation of a church on Picacho seemed to be watching, waving as the parade rolled by.
Harold Litzenberg was watching with his wife Marie as the bikes pulled out of the mall parking lot.
"(We come) to watch all the bikers," Litzenberg said. "We always do every year. My son, hes a biker, so we enjoy it."
"We just wanted to come out and see the motorcycles," said Sandra Soto, who, with her two children, was watching the parade on University. "Its pretty cool. I like it. The kids are enjoying it."
"I thought it would be a good opportunity to have my kids see what good faith and a lot of people are sharing for the cause," said Kathy Keller. "And its neat to look at, too."
The community effort is something Adams stressed.
"I think its worth acknowledging that this event has become recognized very widely within the community, not just the motorcycle enthusiasts," he said. "Weve had so many sponsors, vendors, contributors and just people showing up."
As an example of community support, he said Steinborn Realty showed up with a bag of toys.
"Now I dont know if anyone rides over there, but they brought in bags of toys. And this happens almost every year. Different groups will come in with bags of toys. We have no idea who they are, but they know about the event and theyll just bring in stuff. So the community has gotten behind us tremendously, including all the sponsors and contributors. Its tremendous all the support were getting."
That support translates into happy holidays for hundreds of families in the county.
The toys initially go to the Tresco Tots Program, which Adams called "the primary beneficiary of this event."
But the toys and money remaining are then given to other county organizations.
Last year, in addition to distributing the remaining toys, organizers divided almost $4,000 among La Casa, Jardin de Los Ninos, the Boys and Girls Club, Families First, the Las Cruces Police Toy Chest, Doa Ana Elementary and Hacienda del Sol.
In past years, organizations from communities as diverse as Chaparral, Sunland Park, Anthony and Hatch have benefited from the toy run.
With attendance bigger than ever, Adams called this years ride "the best year weve ever had," and is guessing more than $5,000 will be collected, along with 1,500 toys.
Once the bikes had all arrived at Dickersons, the riders spent the rest of the rest of the afternoon enjoying a barbecue dinner, checking out vendors and a bike show, and listening to music from a disc jockey.
The toys will be distributed to Tresco families at a party Dec. 9. Whatever remains after the party will be sent to other community organizations.
