For 41 years, the rumble and the roar of motorcycles has replaced the jingle of bells and clatter of hoof prints to make children spirits bright and bring tidings and good cheer for Christmas. And now, 2023 marks the 42nd year bikers will provide gifts to children in Central Kansas needing an extra spark of joy for the Christmas season.
On Saturday, the Men Motorcycle Club hosted the 42nd annual Central Kansas Toy Run. Members of the Men M.C., and friends from around the Golden Belt and Kansas, started the day at one of their sponsors, VFW Post 3111, and took off at 10 a.m. to complete a poker run in order to visit a number of their sponsors and enjoy the warm October weather, a perfect day for a motorcycle ride.
“This is a special year to us because we’re honoring some close friends of ours that passed away, Tom and Marie Drewel, they were our Mr. and Mrs. Claus,” said Tony Hohman, the Men M.C. national president. “We’ve got members and friends from all over Kansas here to support the kids and help gather toys and raise money. We also help out with other clubs and their toy runs, and they in turn help with ours. It shows unity. It’s a brotherhood, just like any fraternity.
“We want people to remember that it is open to the public we just ask for a donation of an unwrapped toy or $10 donation and we don’t keep anything, it all goes to helping kids in the community.” he added.
Along with gift giving, the Toy Run also uses the money raised to support other projects directed towards helping children around the community.
“We gather the toys, wrap them, and then get them out to the families.” Said Layne “Bo” Philbern, one of the riders. “Depending on the year we usually help about 300-400 children. We’ve helped buy equipment for the Boy Scouts and other times we’ve cleared out angel trees, just bought out all the remaining names. Everything we do is for the kids.”
After the poker run, and visiting some of their nearly 40 sponsors, the bikers gathered at the Brit Spaugh Zoo to parade back to VFW Post 3111.
Vic and Yvonne Link – also known as “Diesel” and “Sleepy” – are in their second year as Mr. and Mrs. Claus. “It’s big shoes to fill, since Tom and Marie have passed away. And this year is in honor of them,” Diesel said. Diesel is the minister at Cross Winds of Kansas Biker Church and rides with Bikers for Christ, but is good friends with the Men M.C.
Diesel added, “All of us here today have shown up for the kids and we’ll continue to for many years to come.”
After the parade the riders and other members of the public met up at the VFW where they enjoyed live music, a food truck, raffles and door prizes.
