HOG toy run for Head Start

December 11, 2008 - 6:55 PM

PHOTO BY RYAN BRENNECKE/ THE SUN
Brian Anderson (left) and Brian Rodgers, president of Yuma HOG, will both be participating in this year's 20th annual toy run Saturday. Toys collected will be given to the WACOG Head Start program, and money to the burn camp for Yuma children.

Members of the Harley Owners Group (HOG) have extended invitation to all motorcycle riders - regardless of the brand they are on - to join them in their 20th annual toy run on Saturday.

Brian Rodgers, president of the HOG Yuma Chapter 0104, said, "We welcome any biker because this run is to collect toys for underprivileged children in the Head Start program of the Western Arizona Council of Governments (WACOG), a local organization. Last year we had 500 bikers.

"In addition, money goes into a fund to send Yuma area children to the Arizona Burn Camp. This past summer we helped send 14 children who had received burns to the camp. Paul Evancho, firefighter and manager of the Child Burn Survivor Program of the Yuma Fire Department, is one of the organizers of the camp," Rogers said.

Signup for the ride will be from 9 to 11 a.m. at Bobby's Territorial Harley-Davidson, 2550 E. Gila Ridge Road. The parade will leave at 11:30, ending at the Joe Henry Park on 1st Street near Avenue B.

Participants are to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the ride.

Cost for the ride is $25 each, which includes a T-shirt, one raffle ticket and a meal ticket. Spectators can pay $15 for a T-shirt only, and tickets are $10 each for the meal, to be served at noon at the park.

For information, call Rodgers at 261-9620.

---
Pam M. Smith can be reached at psmith@yumasun.com or 539-6856.