Tulsa Toy Run: It's All About The Kids

Thousands of motorcycles hit the Tulsa streets Sunday for a good cause. The Tulsa Toy Run made its way from the fairgrounds to the RiverSpirit Casino.

Though the temperatures are cold, riders had a purpose that keeps them warm.

It's like a motorcade from Santa's workshop - thousands of bikers rode fender to fender through Tulsa, each with a toy to give to the Marines Toys for Tots program.

"It's all about the kids," said Tulsa resident Dennis Nelson.
Dan Bewley: Does it matter that it's so cold?"
Dennis Nelson: "It does not matter. We were here last year, and it was a lot colder than this."

The riders are bundled for the cold weather - some even dressed as reindeer. Their bikes sported toys from Spiderman to helicopters to kitchen sets to stuffed animals.

Allen McHenry and Dianna Poplin spent the morning trying to figure out how to carry their two super-sized gifts.

"This is all fun, and it's great giving things away," said Allen McHenry of Broken Arrow.

In the middle of it all is a man with a unique connection to the Christmas season.

His name is Paul Eleves. That's right, his name is Eleves and just like his fellow riders he came bearing gifts - just don't think he made them.

"Got trucks and baby doll stuff," said Tulsa resident Paul Eleves.

This is the 32nd year for the Tulsa Toy Run. Organizers expect close to 20,000 riders but say it's hard to tell how many toys they donate.

"So you can't really evaluate and say one toy per bike," said James Clark of ABATE of Tulsa. "It's difficult to predict, but I know we filled two semis last year and that's a lot of toys."

"It's unexplainable. It gives you a feeling of gratitude, I mean it's like freedom - everybody around you and they're all doing the same thing. It's pretty cool," Eleves said.

"That's what Christmas is about for us bikers - helping other kids less fortunate than ours," said Tulsa resident Paul Jackson.

"For the kids - that's all about the children, my friend, it's all about the children," agreed ABATE's James Clark.

If you didn't make it out for the ride there are still plenty of places where you can drop off a toy, at any area Kum and Go location, for example.

Get a complete list of toy drop off locations at the Tulsa Toy Run website.