A lot of you have been on the Cyclerides.com Toys To Kids ride over the last several
years. It has always been well attended and has been a very rewarding
time for everyone involved. It was the only ride that would actually bring the kids to you so that you could see
them receive your gifts. With the recent changes in escorting rides and the costs being charged by law enforcement,
insurance costs, permit fees, etc., I just didn't feel like it was appropriate, especially in these economic times
to be spending money like that just to ride a few miles from point A to point B. So, in my mind, I had pretty much
written it off to not do the event because of all of the above reasons. But... It wasn't meant to be.
Have you ever gone through those times when that little voice in your head and
the spirit deep down inside you is telling you that you should be doing something, or possibly, should not be doing
something? Regardless of where you believe that voice is coming
from, we have all had to deal with it at some time. Well, it seems to happen to me a lot, and this time it was
about the Toy Ride. Thanks to a lot of you with your emails of inquiry, a call from the school with the kids, getting
a call from Westgate offering a place to end the event and watching this video from
2 years ago, there were enough signs to start a small city that I should be going forward with this event. It's
not the kids fault about the economy or that there are costs involved with the normal way of putting on this event,
they just look forward to this one bright spot in the Christmas Holiday that they can get out, be appreciated,
and get some toys that they never thought they could have.
So, I finally listened to that little voice in my head that was getting louder
by the day, and listened to all of you, to make this event happen in a way that works for everyone. To keep the event no charge for everyone to attend, I decided to make it
a Toy Ride-In. We just ask for one toy per person donation. Westgate City Center has
made available the Events Plaza next to the fountains
for us to park the bikes, have the entertainment, stack the toys and accommodate the kids. This makes it possible
to be less of a financial burden on everyone and give all available resources to the kids. Here is how the
day will look:
Starting at 9am
you and your groups can start arriving to park in the events plaza on both sides of the street until
the area is full, then parking will be in the lot just East of the fountains. Saddle Ranch Chop House Restaurant
will have a buffet available that will include a complete breakfast than includes orange juice and coffee
for a total of $8.99 per person. Saddle Ranch is located right next to where we will be having the event and has
a huge patio where you can dine and enjoy the music and fountains.
At 10:45am
the 100 underprivileged and homeless children from the Children's First Academy will arrive and assemble in front of the stage and toys to our thunderous applause as the
walk in. This should be a great moment for all of these kids to feel appreciated so much in a time when moments
like that do not come around that often. Most of you have heard about the closure of the Pappas Schools last spring
and were wondering where all of those kids would go to school. A new charter school was started called Children's
First Academy and those kids were taken in by them. Most of the staff from Pappas transferred as well to continue taking
care of these kids that have no where else to go. I personally went to visit the new school a couple of weeks
ago and was extremely impressed with what they were doing with the new location a couple of blocks away
from the former location. It looks as though they are making this a comfortable situation for all involved.
Click Here to learn about Children's First Academy.
At 11:00am
the program and entertainment will begin. I am working on a children's
choir, entertainment for children and adults alike and what has become a Toys to Kids tradition, Bret
Kaiser as ELVIS will rock us and
the kids to close out the show. The kids will then be allowed to pick out their toys from the stacks of toys in front of
the stage.
At 12:30pm,
Westgate is sponsoring a "Big Air Freestyle Motocross" show. This
will be a 20 minute show of motorcycles doing tricks high in the air from ramp to ramp including the now famous
flips in mid air. These guys are a lot of fun to watch. This performance will be taking place right next to where
the Toy Ride event will be. Just walk over and enjoy the free show. So ride your bike, have the rest of the family
drive the car and make it a family day at the Cyclerides.com Toys to Kids Ride-In.
I really think this is going to be a great event and just as exciting as the rest of
them. I would encourage you to get your riding chapters together, meet
and a pre determined location and ride to Westgate together. Enjoy breakfast or just walk around Westgate City
Center and enjoy the Christmas decorations and festive atmosphere that will be there that day.
Now I will ask for some help. I know times
are tough for everyone, but if you work for a company that is still doing well, or are an individual that would
like to donate, we will need approximately $270 to pay for the busses and the drivers to bring the kids to Westgate
on that day. You can make the check out directly to the bus company. Contact me at info@cyclerides.com if you
are interested in making this happen. Beyond that there will be some minor expenses for some staging, etc. that
will need to be paid for. I will have a couple of buckets available for you to donate a buck or two if you would
like. Any left over will be given to the Children First Academy.
If you have access to a stage, or risers that
we can use for a stage, or a good sound system, that would be helpful as well.
This is short notice, but I really feel this is something that we need to do both for
the kids and for ourselves. I hope that you will plan for yourself to
attend and bring a few friends to make continue the Cyclerides.com Toys To Kids
tradition and make this a special day. Please forward this to all of your groups and riding friends. Bring the
whole family. To see what this is all about, watch this short 4 minute video from 2006. Click Here for Video. Thanks
again for all of your support throughout the years!
Sincerely,
Barry
Details
for Cyclerids.com Toys To Kids Ride-In:
When: Saturday, December 6th
Where: Westgate City Center Events Plaza located
on S.E. Corner of the Loop 101 and Glendale Ave.
Time: Breakfast starting at 9am at Saddle
Ranch located next to event stage.
Kids Arrive at 10:45 am. Show starts
at 11am. Freestyle Motocross starts at 12:30pm.
Cost: One Toy and Optional bag of hygiene
products.
CLICK HERE FOR FLYER
**Please Read**
The following is a note from Dina Gerdon at Children's First.
These are desired toy ideas and additional items for the kids.
"Thank you so much for doing the Toy event for Children's First.
The toys that we are looking at would include: Bead sets, Art Sets, Sports equipment, Remote Control Car, Easy
bake ovens, Play dough sets, Portable CD players, Color Wonder play sets, Kinex, Legos, Please no dolls or bratz
dolls. If you are looking for more than giving the kids one toy. We would like a new book for each child, hygiene
items and a sweatshirt."
Thank you so much,
Dina
