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Posted on Sun, Nov. 01, 2009

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Motorcyclists ride to collect toys

BY Chandra Stauffer

Eagle correspondent

More than 3,200 motorcycles filled the Lawrence-Dumont Stadium parking lot today to make the annual trek to the Kansas Coliseum for the Wichita Toy Run.

They participate because they love a good ride on a beautiful November day, but also so more children will have a gift to open at Christmas.

"If we weren't here, we'd be out riding somewhere else anyway," said Chad Koehn of Halstead. "Might as well be here."

This was the first year Koehn and his girlfriend, Shannon Giessel, participated in the run. They said they will definitely be back next year and were impressed with the turnout.

"I've never seen this many bikes in one place," said Giessel.

This was the 30th year for the Toy Run, which benefits Toys for Tots, the Salvation Army and the Kansas Food Bank.

Motorcyclists — many with toys such as board games, Legos and stuffed animals strapped to their bikes — rode from the stadium to the coliseum on a near-perfect autumn day.

Holly Potelle, director of the run, has participated all 30 years. She watched it grow from a small group of about 30 riders the first year to what it has become today.

"Pretty much every year it has increased in size," she said.

Brad and Natalie Olmsted, who have ridden for five years, spend the day with a group of 17 motorcyclist friends. They meet for breakfast before heading to the run, then continue the festivities at venues that welcome riders with special events.

"The whole day is awesome," Natalie Olmsted said. "It's definitely an all-day event."

She said she appreciates what the run does for the image of bikers. She thinks it's good for people to see the group's generosity.

The Toy Run is just one of many runs and fundraisers throughout the year, she said. Whenever a fellow rider is in need or struggling, the rest jump in to help out.

"The biking community is about community," she said.

Potelle said that's why she enjoys this event and continues to volunteer so much of her time to it each year. When she opens her gifts on Christmas Day she feels better knowing that somewhere a child is opening up the gift she brought to the run.

"It's knowing you did the right thing," she said.