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I am not usually one for pouring my heart out on the internet but I feel this is well deserved of it. As you may have read I took up motorcycling in May this year. I started out on a small 500cc Ninja and have since moved up to a 600CC FZ6. But really the bike I ride is irrelevant. What is relevant is that I wanted to give back in some way. A friend of a friend posted on Facebook about the Toys For Tots parade and I happened to have the day free. I went shopping with my friend and picked out a few toys. In the spirit of things we got Santa hats for our helmets and I wired up some Christmas lights to my bike.
I arrived at Dan Ryan Woods with my friend Dan and one of his friends. We waited a few hours and then the bikes started moving out. I have to say that it was very well organized and things moved pretty smoothly. We proceeded to go north on Western and almost immediately saw people waving and cheering at us. I didn’t expect this at all. Then we saw the little kids waving at all the bikes going by with huge smiles on their faces. That moment right there made it all worth it. To see the excitement and joy in their eyes was just heartwarming. I can only imagine how happy the child who got one of those toys was. It almost brought a tear to my eyes, literally. The joy and happiness that I felt riding the toys up to the drop off location with all the other bikers was immense.
I will definitely be doing this again and again for as long as I own a motorcycle. Just thinking about the event is giving me goosebumps as I type this out. It’s great to see that there are still some people that truly care and are willing to go out of their way for others. It gives me hope that there are still good people out there. Yes it was cold out that day but it was completely worth it just to bring a little happiness to some kid somewhere on Christmas that would have otherwise gotten nothing.
Keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down.
Tim, I totally agree with you. 3rd year in a row for me riding in the parade.I get the same feeling each year.Merry Christmas to You and your lady.
Ray
Been riding for years, this would have been my 4th Toys for Tots ride. You’ll see more and more events, that allow you to give back. At least you’re not just starting to get out of that shell of yours. You can always give back even when you’re not riding. It’s a great feeling regardless.
I’m proud to say that the 2011 TFT Parade was my 29th in a row, and it gets better every year. I call it “The World’s Greatest Motorcycle Parade”. Tim, you gave one of the best accounts of The Parade that I’ve ever read. It’s always so much fun. It’s like having your birthday and Christmas and the Super Bowl all at the same time. And, remember, it’s the only Chicago parade that actually helps people and has a beneficial purpose. Thanks for your support!
Thank you for the comment! I absolutely loved it! I will be back for more next year, Rain, Snow, or Shine.