Saturday marks a special day for Southern Alberta Bikers.
The group takes part in the annual Southern Alberta Toy Run.
The event, marking its 46th year, will see bikers and community members come together to support local causes and local youth.
“It’s a way for the biker community to support the local community and most notably, a lot of times, the pediatric wards at the hospitals or different local charities that need support helping out their children, the young ones in their community,” said Dallas Harty, president of Southern Alberta Bikers.
“It’s just a way for the biker community to give back to the local community.”
Harty explained that toy runs are held in multiple communities, including areas like Calgary and Medicine Hat, with this year’s run there welcoming over 600 bikers.
In Lethbridge, the Sept. 19 event will kick off at Honkers Pub and Eatery. It will start with a by-donation breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., followed by a motorcycle parade at 10 a.m., a benefit ride and other activities before wrapping up by 5 p.m.
Harty said residents can get involved by making a financial donation, or dropping off an unused, clean teddy bear or toy at Honkers prior to or on the day of the event.
“A little further down the line, we all get together and we have a number of charities that generally ask for help and we get together and divide everything up and divvy it out accordingly and try to help as many organizations as we can,” he stated.
“There’s a number of different organizations around town, including the pediatrics wards – child life services at Chinook Regional Hospital, that they always have a need for toys and teddy bears and stuff for kids that are in need during a time in the hospital, or there’s different organizations around town that support families in need and children in need.”
Harty added that, “Generally, we make donations from a half a dozen to a dozen different organizations in the form of either a financial donation or toys and teddy bears and different things to help them achieve their goals.”
PARADE
The forecast is calling for sunshine, which Harty said will be perfect for the motorcycle parade. “It’s just very rewarding to see people coming out and lining the streets to watch the motorcycle parade,” Harty remarked.
“We’re hoping to have between 150 and 200 bikes this year, and the support from the community is phenomenal.”
He said the parade route will see riders leave from Honkers and go north to 18 Avenue to Stafford Drive, then down Stafford to 6 Avenue South, east to 13 Street, and north on 13 Street to 5 Avenue North before turning east on 5 Avenue North and back to Honkers.
Harty said he is grateful for the support from Honkers, the community, participants, as well as other local businesses who have chipped in to help make the event possible.
“I just want to thank all the businesses and the individuals that have donated to the Southern Alberta Bikers for this event to help make it a complete success,” he stated.
The 46th annual Southern Alberta Toy Run is open to all riders from southern Alberta and beyond, with all community members invited to attend, cheer on the riders and be part of the fun. More details are available on the Southern Alberta Bikers Facebook page.
