About Us - Children's Hospital Toy Run
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24th Annual Toy Run to The Children's Hospital - 2009
This one-day event brings in so many toys that every child who stays at The Children's Hospital throughout the year is able to receive a gift donated by a participant in the Toy Run. Last year alone, the Rocky Mountain Harley Owners Group and other Toy Run participants donated so many toys that the toys had to be stored in a warehouse until the time that they were needed.
Over the years, the Toy Run has grown from a few hundred dedicated individuals to several thousand bikers and countless supporters - even if the weather is horrible.
Where and when is the Toy Run held?
The Toy Run to Children's Hospital will be staged at the Aurora Sports Park at 18601 Sports Park Drive, Aurora CO.
This year's Toy Run is on Sunday, December 6th, and will work much in the same way it did last year. The cost for admission to the parade to Children's is the same as years past - a toy, and they should be new, unwrapped but in the original packaging if possible. Please check Children's website for needed items at [http://www.thechildrenshospital.org/pdf/Wishlist 2009-2010 Website.pdf] where you can download a PDF of the complete wish list, and don't forget the kids range in age from newborn to teenagers.
Details of how the event will be run and volunteer opportunities are explained below.
PRE-REGISTRATION - REGISTRATION
It is highly recommended that you pre-register! Pre-registration is available at Rocky Mountain H-D up to and including the day of the Toy Run. On the day of the Toy Run, registration will end at 9:00 am so the volunteers can make it to the parade on time. When you register, you will receive an armband that will allow you to be part of the parade from Aurora Sports Park to Children's Hospital. The armband must be worn and clearly visible when you arrive at the staging area.
If you do not pre-register, there will be registration available at Aurora Sports Park the morning of the Toy Run but you will most likely face long delays getting to your place in line for the parade. If you come with a group, you will get separated from them because they will have to continue on into the park. There is limited space for registering at the park and they will not allow groups of riders to wait while someone is getting registered.
PRE-REGISTER * PRE-REGISTER * PRE-REGISTER * PRE-REGISTER
STAGING
This year will work the same as last year. You are not required to start at the Rocky Mountain H-D dealership, and you can go directly to Aurora Sports Park if you wish. For those that want to meet at RMH-D, we will have Road Captains available to escort you to Aurora Sports Park where the parade begins. Any escorted groups that leave from RMH-D will be small. There is no longer a "mass group ride" from the dealership. The last escorted group will leave the dealership at 9:00 am. If you meet there as a group or as a single rider after 9:00 am, you will have to ride to the park on your own.
STAGING AREA - AURORA SPORTS PARK
Aurora Sports Park is located on East Colfax just east of Tower Road. It is approximately 3 miles east of 225. When you arrive, you must have your armband prominently displayed so the volunteers can see that you've pre-registered. If you need to register at the park, there will be volunteers to help you. As you enter the park, you will be directed to the staging area. The earlier you get to the park, the closer to the front of the parade you'll be, and the earlier you will get to Children's Hospital. There will be more toilet facilities available this year and they will be spread out better.
The first wave of the parade to Children's Hospital will start at 11:00 am. The usual assortment of fire trucks, dignitaries, and flag bearers will lead the parade. The volunteers will send riders out in the order they arrived at the park as best they can. Please be patient and understand they are volunteers doing the best they can with a tremendous number of motorcycles gathered in one place.
* * * TWO VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES * * *
As with most charitable events, volunteers are vital to the success of the Toy Run. This year we need volunteers at both the RMH-D dealership and at the staging area in Aurora Sports Park.
RMH-D - We need all Road Captains available to take small groups from the dealership to the staging area. More details will be covered at the Road Captains meeting on Saturday, Nov. 7th.
AURORA SPORTS PARK - Anyone, not just Road Captains who are interested in helping with the staging of riders at the park should contact Barb Krasnopero and let her know. Her contact info is: Cell phone 303 909-0142 - E-mail - barbkras@gmail.com
These volunteers will be placed throughout the staging area in the order they arrive. The earlier you get to Aurora Sports Park the more organized the parade will be. Wherever you are placed within the staging area, you will leave with the bikes around you. Barb will let you know where help is most needed, either the park or possibly at the hospital for parking bikes coming in from the parade.
FLU SEASON AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
As in past years, participants are invited to go into the lobby of the hospital to drop off toys, mingle with other riders, etc. However, this year because of the H1N1 flu, Children's Hospital has asked that no one under the age of 13 be allowed inside the hospital. While this is an unfortunate constraint being placed on us because our kids are a big part of this event, it is certainly understandable given how many people will be attending this event and the increased exposure inside the lobby. Children's has also asked us to let you know that no pets will be allowed inside the lobby this year. If you are sick or not feeling well the day of the Toy Run, please give serious consideration as to whether it's worth it to expose hundreds, if not thousands of fellow riders. If you are sick and still decide to go, please don't go inside the lobby of the hospital.
We hope to see you at the Toy Run!
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to call the Dealership at (303) 703-2885
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