21st Annual Motorcycle for Kids Toy Ride

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- Several biker groups took over Zanesville today shutting down a main road, but it was all for a good cause.

Today many biker groups across the area gathered at Colony Square Mall to help make Christmas special for children in need. Pastor Michael McGuire of the Rushing Wind Biker Church enjoys putting on this event each year.

“This is our 21st annual Motorcycles for Kids Toy Ride. Every year we put this on going on 21 years. Today we’re expecting 2-300 hundred motorcycles. A lot of motorcycle enthusiasts. The reason why we put it on is to bless the underprivileged children here in the Muskingum County area.”

The Bikers pay $10 to register their bikes or bring a donation of equal or less value for the fundraiser. But it’s not just about the bikers, it’s about bringing the community together to achieve a common goal.

“I think the motorcycles for kids toy ride brings together not just the bikers together, but the community together and they see some great things coming out of the motorcycle community,” said McGuire.

First they’ll gather in the mall parking lot. George Bates, Envoy at the Salvation Army, said they eventually leave the parking lot to embark on a journey through the city.

“They will fire these bikes up at 3:00 and they already have the route all laid out. They will ride from here down to the Salvation Army.”

Many of the bikers, like Debbie Grear who rides with the Y-City H.O.G., look forward to the ride each year.

“Well we like to support the community, the Salvation Army, and the benefit for kids for Christmas,” said Grear. “We’ve done this probably at least for the last six years or more and the kids deserve this.”

The Salvation Army and Bikers hope the drive will help put a smile on a child’s face and create a lasting memory.

“I remember growing up how much fun it was to look under the tree. You know what I mean? We don’t want anybody to go without that excitement, that feeling,” Bates said, reflecting on his childhood memories. “We just want our kids to be blessed. And it takes people. And we can’t not say thank you to the bikers enough.”