Officially, they’re members of the Region 5 chapter of the Michigan A.B.A.T.E. (American Bikers Aiming Toward Education) organization.
But at Christmas, they go by another name — Santa Claus.
On Oct. 7, the bikers’ group held its 12th annual Toy Run that took 209 participants on a 122-mile route and six stops throughout Muskegon County.
The trip might just as well have been to the North Pole.
By the time the Toy Run was completed, the bikers had collected 500-plus toys and raised $6,029 to be divided between Hackley Life Counseling (the former Child and Family Services) and the Children’s Miracle Network to help the children they serve.
“These are a super bunch of people. It takes a lot of coordination … a lot of different people to make this work,” said Betty Stoneburner, a former Hackley Life Counseling employee who volunteers for the run.
A.B.A.T.E. is “a motorcycle rights group that gets the most publicity” for its efforts to eliminate mandatory helmet laws, said chapter vice president Fred Sherman of Muskegon. But the group also raises funds for various charitable organizations throughout the year.
“Our most important role is to improve the image of motorcylists,” he said.
Among those taking part in the annual Toy Run were also members of the Muskegon Motorcycle Club, the Fremont and Muskegon chapters of the Harley Owners Group, Christian Riders and Rolling Thunder.
The group received a $1,000 grant from Wal-Mart to add to the money raised.
The Toy Run is always held the first Saturday in October and open to any interested bike rider, according to Stoneburner.
