FORT WORTH -- Sue Kellogg sat forward on her Harley-Davidson, a giant teddy bear wearing a helmet strapped to the back of her bike.
"I love doing this for the kids," the longtime biker said. "This is my small way of giving these kids a Christmas."Kellogg was among the thousands of bikers who gathered Saturday morning at Gateway Park for the 27th annual Big Texas Toy Run, which benefits clients of Mental Health Mental Retardation of Tarrant County.Bikers departed Gateway Park for Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, where a party and concert awaited.The bikers -- many clad in leather jackets emblazoned with club names like Boozefighters and Chula Chasers -- each donated $10 and a gift. Strapped to bikes and loaded onto giant trucks were Barbies, Candy Land and Trouble, toy tractors, dancing Elmos, Play-Doh, stuffed teddy bears, tricycles and elaborate doll houses.Mike Richardson began riding a motorcycle in 1958, drawn to the freedom of the open road. For the past 10 years, he and his wife, Anne, have led the parade dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus.The toy run not only helps raise money for children, Richardson said, but it also helps bikers present a positive image. "Sometimes a few bad apples can make all of us look bad," he said. "But this is what real bikers do. We give. We help people. We support our communities."Jim Moore, chief of human resources for MHMR Tarrant County, said the toy run has been invaluable in providing for children and families who need help most. The agency provides services and assistance to people with mental illness, mental retardation, autism, addictive behaviors and early childhood developmental issues."Our kids are so excited and appreciative," Moore said. "This means they get a Christmas."The toy run has changed much since 1985, when roughly 200 bikers gathered on a Sunday.This year, warm weather and sunshine drew an estimated 15,000 bikers, a record, organizers said.Brad Culberhouse, a member of the Chula Chasers, was among the founding toy run bikers."This started out with just a few crazy guys on bikes," Culberhouse said. "Now we've got doctors, lawyers, businesspeople. It's very different."Kellogg, who joined the run three years ago, said she fell in love with the diversity of bikers."Even some of the gruff-looking ones turn out to be executives. You never know," she said. "You find people from all walks of life with just one thing in common. We want to help the kids."Sarah Bahari, 817-390-7056Twitter: @sarahbfwHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
