Teddy Bear Run for EOM

[thompsonian]

So...this is the season for Toys for Tots and those who are fortunate enough to have year round riding weather are doing Toy Runs and the like. Was thinking aloud to all those here who will listen.

Here in Marietta, they have an annual Teddy Bear Run for the local hospitals. Folks go out, buy a bear, go on a Poker Run style ride with the bear strapped to their bike, and then donate them to the kids in the hospital. Afterwards, they have a dinner/raffle type thing. So here is my thoughts in regards to EOM:

Whenever EOM 09 is decided location-wise, who would be up for doing something along those lines? Maybe bring a bear from your hometown, take a couple of digital pics of it along your journey, ride all EOM with it, then we make a group donation to the local hospitals? The reason for the pics, would be to kind of give it a life before it came to live with the lucky child. You know, this bear made a special journey all the way from wherever just to be your friend type of story.

Just an idea. Thoughts/comments are welcome.

-Dave

 

[johndaub]

So...this is the season for Toys for Tots and those who are fortunate enough to have year round riding weather are doing Toy Runs and the like. Was thinking aloud to all those here who will listen.
Here in Marietta, they have an annual Teddy Bear Run for the local hospitals. Folks go out, buy a bear, go on a Poker Run style ride with the bear strapped to their bike, and then donate them to the kids in the hospital. Afterwards, they have a dinner/raffle type thing. So here is my thoughts in regards to EOM:

Whenever EOM 09 is decided location-wise, who would be up for doing something along those lines? Maybe bring a bear from your hometown, take a couple of digital pics of it along your journey, ride all EOM with it, then we make a group donation to the local hospitals? The reason for the pics, would be to kind of give it a life before it came to live with the lucky child. You know, this bear made a special journey all the way from wherever just to be your friend type of story.

Just an idea. Thoughts/comments are welcome.

-Dave

+1. But if it is ridden with to EOM and all of EOM, would the hospital reject it as used and dirty?

 

[thompsonian]

Hmm...good point. I'm not sure on that one. That's kinda why I'm doing an early feeler for the idea. If enough people like the idea, then I'll contact a local hospital there and see if they are keen on the idea. I'll also contact my local hospital and see how they do it.

 

[luvtoride]

I'm more up on the Toys for Twats ride. Never did toys f/ tots.

I'm more apt to pull a few bucks from my pocket & give thata' way. That bear will take up too much packing room!

 

[Checkswrecks]

So...this is the season for Toys for Tots and those who are fortunate enough to have year round riding weather are doing Toy Runs and the like. Was thinking aloud to all those here who will listen.
Here in Marietta, they have an annual Teddy Bear Run for the local hospitals. Folks go out, buy a bear, go on a Poker Run style ride with the bear strapped to their bike, and then donate them to the kids in the hospital. Afterwards, they have a dinner/raffle type thing. So here is my thoughts in regards to EOM:

Whenever EOM 09 is decided location-wise, who would be up for doing something along those lines? Maybe bring a bear from your hometown, take a couple of digital pics of it along your journey, ride all EOM with it, then we make a group donation to the local hospitals? The reason for the pics, would be to kind of give it a life before it came to live with the lucky child. You know, this bear made a special journey all the way from wherever just to be your friend type of story.

Just an idea. Thoughts/comments are welcome.

-Dave

Love it! I'd be in and the photo idea is fantastic.

 

[OhioFJR1300]

I'm more up on the Toys for Twats ride. Never did toys f/ tots.I'm more apt to pull a few bucks from my pocket & give thata' way. That bear will take up too much packing room!

+1 . The idea of doing something for a hospital or for kids is a good one. But I too need all the room to pack my gear for EOM and would not have room for much of a bear. If you strap it on somewhere and it rains, the bear may not look so good when it gets where it is going. There is a big teddy bear run here in Cleveland Ohio every year, the cops even close the freeway and all roads from the start point to the children's hospital. I doubt that many of the riders that participate come from more than 50 to 100 miles away. I ride 300 plus miles to get to EOM and many come from greater distances than this. Doing something like this may end up being a lot of work when combined with EOM. Don't mean to sound like I'm not for the idea, just think it may be a lot of work to pull it off.

 

[thompsonian]

This is the reason I posted up about this. Wanted some other inputs. WHAT IF: there was say a Wally World or something close by? Maybe pick one up there and take a day trip with it? Just looking for something to try and brighten a kids day. I guess I didn't really think about the whole packing alot of stuff since I only had to ride 3hrs to get to EOM this year. Might be able to work something out by 09. Got some ideas still floating up there.

 

[leedavis]

The way these things that I've been on are usually done is with a short known route at a specific time, ending with a meal.

It could be tied into our banquet day. Participants hook up around 5pm at the motel, load bears (purchased locally) on bikes, ride through town then head back for banquet. Some good PR in the community is a side benefit.

It'd be a fair amount of effort to organize. Money would have to be collected in advance, gifts purchased, picked up for the ride then delivered to recipient.

Local food banks are also easy to donate to though riding around with a canned ham might not be a cute as a teddy bear. It'd look good to families struggling to survive in these tough economic times though.

 

[thompsonian]

That's not a bad idea either. I'm just thinking of something to do for the host town whomever it will be.

 

[BulletBrad]

Great idea for the toy run. One option I use every year for Rolling Thunder is to just UPS my extra stuff down to the motel where we have our rooms booked every year. The motel manager has always put our stuff aside for us and the last two years even had our boxes put in our rooms after we checked in. Just food for thought.

 

[jekirby]

That's not a bad idea either. I'm just thinking of something to do for the host town whomever it will be.

The way the Marines handle toys for tots here is to collect the presents then there is a ride afterwards. I would think that with just a little coordination with the local press and major community charity, then you could meet , ride thru town and finish at the location of the charity and present a check from all the riders. Even if this were on a weekend the director of the charity would probibly be more than willing to meet the group to accept a donation. If it is for the community, then a food pantry would be a great choice. There is always the salvation army and red cross. This takes away seasonal coordination of the rally and charity.

 

[thompsonian]

I agree with the food pantry idea as well. Whenever JW lets the cat out of the bag for EOM 09, I'll look into that area and see what kind of charity I can hook up with. Maybe if folks just swing by a store and grab a can of food while they are out on their rides, I can arrange to have it picked up.