Christmas Toy Run

From: "Chuck Sanchez" <cls1@wt.net>
Subject: Christmas Toy Run
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 00:47:06 -0500
Vrocers help with the TAME toy run for Shriners Children's Burn Hospital.

Shriners Burn Institute Christmas Ride

This year the Texas Association of Motorcycle Enthusiasts' (Hereafter TAME)
annual Christmas Ride was in support of Shriners Burn Institute in
Galveston.  This hospital specializes only in the treatment and
rehabilitation of burned children.  At this point I would like to take the
opportunity to expend to the following persons my sincerest gratitude.  Due
to an unexpected illness of Mike Jeffcott, Pete Soullas agreed to play Santa
Claus doing an outstanding job under some pretty tough conditions.  Our
guest-of-honor at this event was Cat Macadoo a local junior college student.
Cat received this recognition because of her generosity in donating muscle
tissue to support research at The Shrine.  She was instrumental in helping
Santa and was a positive asset during the event.  Butch Stroud was
responsible for arranging for a police escort from Kelley’s to the Shrine
Hospital.  Due to the unexpectedly large turnout, I’m sure glad that we had
this escort.  Officers Stroud and Trochesset are to be commended in the
manner in which they controlled traffic and for their interactions with the
kids.  The citizens of Galveston are lucky to have officers such as this.
To Bonnie Bishop, Child Life Services representative from the Shrine
Hospital who was our advisor in selecting gifts and escort during the visit,
thank you for all your help.  And a special thanks to the following
committee members:  Carolyn Powell, Rene’, Ellie, Steve and Cindy Lhama,
Cindy Rogers, Gene and Sarah, Gene and Norma, Mike Jeffcott and Trudy for
all your hard work in pulling this event off.  It was done well and surely
put a good foot forward for motorcyclists.  To The Texas Dance Club, a
thanks for helping out, not only did they donate a large sum of money to
this event but also joined in the ride (in cars) to the Shrine.

We met for the ride at Kelley’s.  I arrived with Cat at about 11:30 am and
started lining up bikes along the side curbing.  Shortly after my arrival,
Chuck and Bettie, Trudy, and Pete (Santa)and Camille arrived.  I must tell
you that the entry of Mr. and Mrs. Claus was quite a sight.  If you can
imagine a big blue Harley flying down the highway with a man in a red Santa
suit and a long flowing white beard whipping back over his shoulders
(hitting Camille I’m sure) laughing all the way.  Add to this, Camille with
an air horn canister that she used at every opportunity, well Merry
Christmas.  More riders arrived, some were TAME members, and some were
former TAME members and some not.  Some of the riders were from other clubs
and just wanted to join a ride that day.  In any event, they were welcomed
in the usual TAME fashion (no strangers on bikes, just folks we don’t know
yet).  The sleigh (Animal’s bike and trailer) arrived and joined the
procession.  The officers arrived at about 12:15 and by the 12:30 departure
time we had 30 bikes and 10 autos.

The procession left on time and headed south on 45 under the direction of
our escorts.  Santa lead the way followed by the sleigh.  It took about 30
minutes via Broadway and 8th Street to get to The Shrine.  Upon arrival we
pulled into their driveway and were met by our Shrine contact, Bonnie
Bishop.  We parked our bikes, re-grouped, and greeted the kids that came
down to see the bikes.  Bonnie told me that she knew when we arrived because
of the "roar" that could be heard coming down the street and grew louder
once inside the parking area.  We dismounted, grabbed the presents, then
Bonnie directed all of us to the third floor where in-patients were visited
by Santa, and his elves (Cat and a host of others) and gifts distributed.
TAME had decided that each pre-school child receive crayons and coloring and
activity books, and a small stuffed animal, elementary school kids got a
camera, matchbox cars and the girls received fingernail
polish, and the older kids received AM/FM radios with head sets and a few
other things.  All recipients received pencils, chocolate and fruit.  After
which a small group of us was allowed to go to the 2nd floor where we
visited the sickest of the kids.  Santa made more than just a few kids and
parents smile that day.  It is amazing that kids as severely injured as some
were could still manage a smile to Santa.  I rather think that this is the
true meaning of Christmas.

When the gift giving was completed, we re-grouped outside of the Shrine
Hospital and bid everyone a Happy Holidays, after which a large group of us
went to The Spot on Galveston Seawall Blvd. for dinner (can’t even do a
charity ride without eating).

TAME donated to the Shrine Hospital in addition to these individual gifts,
the following:  2 Sony Playstations (one for each play area), second
controllers and games for each, a Panasonic VCR, 3 Polaroid cameras with
film, 25 blank VCR tapes, two bags of fruit and candy.  A final tally is not
yet complete, however our contribution to Shrine will exceed $1400.  Trudy
and I are honored to be associated with a group of people who gave so much
to this cause.  You have really made this a true Christmas event.  Like I
heard someone say lately,  "don’t worry, you can count on TAME".

Merry Christmas to all.
Roger Vertrees
TAME Director

Chuck Sanchez
TAME Editor