ABATE '06
23rd Annual Toy
Run
District 4
Sunday,
Oct. 8, 2006
Sunday October
8th marked the 23rd annual ABATE of
Iowa, District 4 toy run. This year, as in many past years,
saw well over 1,000 bikers take a short ride from the State
Capital to
Trophy's to deliver new
unwrapped toys to be given out to children in Polk, Warren
and Dallas Counties. Each year I am awed by the generosity
of our biker brothers and sisters (one biker hauled two bike
trailers jammed FULL of stuffed toys),
the
dedication of those
District 4 volunteers who work their
asses off to make this run go
off smoothly every year, and, thanks to the Des Moines
Police Department, the ease with which a parade of
motorcycles this HUGE,
gets
to the end point with no discernible problems.
My ONLY
negative comments about this event are directed NOT at the
sponsoring organizers or organization, NOT at
Trophy's, NOT at we
participants, BUT at the media. Where were YOU, WHO TV and
Radio??? Where were YOU, KCCI??? Where were YOU, Des Moines
Register????? Where were YOU, KGGO????? Where were YOU, WOI
TV??????? You were ALL notified of this event, and some of
you have given the event coverage in the past, but I didn’t
see any of you here this year. Could it be that you are
more interested in the 51 motorcycle deaths that have
occurred this year, than in the THOUSANDS of gifts given
from the heart of us EVIL Bikers?? You spend PLENTY of air
time on the negatives, none of you failed to air the
commentary on noise at the bike nights at
Porky's Diner and
Trophy's, but let something
like this wonderful and heart felt event occur and you turn
a blind eye and deaf ear towards it.
OK, enough of
my bitching.
I just want to
make sure that you folks at District 4 KNOW that we are
grateful for your hard work and planning, and for the MANY,
MANY Hours you spend each year in planning and preparation
before the event and the same afterwards in making sure that
these gifts reach the ones whose looks of joy this and EVERY
Christmas are all the thanks we ever need or want.
Bikers, this is the event to
be at EVERY year, watch the website and get ready to ride it
next year, let’s make this event bigger and better in the
years to come!!!
Toy Run Photos
