Santa stopped by Fort Dodge Saturday, likely to see how the ABATE motorcycle riders handled the annual Santa in September fun run.
It was, after all, a day to collect toys for children for Christmas. That can't be left to chance.
Also known as Wayne Lussman, of Fort Dodge, Santa took pictures with bikers and their families for $10 each, and gave that money to the group's fundraising project.
Mrs. Claus, aka Cheryl Wiley, of Bode, is events coordinator for District 10 ABATE. ''They make me responsible for setting this up,'' she said as she sat behind Santa on his bike for a picture with Theresa Benjamin, of Laurens. The three got the giggles, but the picture got taken.
Doug Smith, Fort Dodge, spearheaded the toy drive in this, the 23rd annual fun run, with help from D.L. Peterson, Fort Dodge.
''I'm praying for 300 riders today,'' Peterson said. ''And, we might just do it.''
The number, however, fell short of that prayer by 10 - 290 bikers signed up. Still, that is a record number.
He's not concerned about cramming all those riders into the stops along the way, he said. Some riders start early; others take different routes.
''And a lot of people just come to donate,'' Peterson said.
Three of the stops - the Smoke Shop in Eagle Grove, Riverside Tap in Lehigh and Pee Wee's in Fort Dodge - also have collection bins for new toys.
Other stops include Crickets on city square in Fort Dodge; Knuckleheads, Badger; Mandi's, Vincent; Tee Gee's, Webster City; and Bootleggers, Fort Dodge.
Smith said those businesses were chosen as stops because ABATE wanted ''to pick our supporting businesses. And the reason we stop at the bars is, typically, they're open. You can get a pop or a cup of coffee. They stamp your card that you've been there.''
He said all riders get a card stamped at the stops, then draw a poker hand when they return to home base, which was Pee Wee's on Saturday. Prizes are awarded for the winning hands. There, too, an auction is held. Some of this year's auction items included a seamless gutter job for 250 feet, the size of a normal ranch-style home; an Iowa Hawkeye gazebo and collapsible chairs; fly fishing pole and reel; and nearly 150 other items.
''We do everything for the kids,'' Smith said. ''Trying to put a smile of the kids' faces at Christmas - the ones who normally wouldn't get a smile.''
His reason was echoed around the square Saturday morning before the run took off up Central Avenue at 1 p.m., led by motorcycle officers from the city and Webster County.
Marilyn McCall and Dave Mericle, both of Fort Dodge, arrived before noon to sign up for the run.
''I've been riding this ride for better than 10 years,'' Mericle said. ''It's a good cause.''
McCall, a passenger on his bike, took her second fun run ride Saturday. ''It's for the kids,'' she said. ''That's why I'm here.''
Mericle had to revamp his bike so McCall could ride after she had knee surgery, and though his bike looks a little different than others, the rumble and roar doesn't change.
As they waited, the couple talked with Ginny and Brent Shipman, of Sac City.
''I've know Pee Wee since grade school,'' he said. ''And I know a bunch of the people in the ride. It's fun to hang out with everybody once a year.''
For Janelle and Chris Lovejoy, of Humboldt, the ride shows support for the community. And they just like to ride, she said.
''We've actually been the recipient of a toy for our premature son,'' Janelle Lovejoy said. ''We used to ride for Toys for Tots in Arizona, and when our son was born prematurely at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines - he weighed 2 pounds, 2 ounces - there was a toy in his room from ABATE.''
It wasn't the toy that made a difference, as much as the knowledge that someone cared.
Contact Sandy Mickelson at (515) 573-2141 or smickelson@messengernews.net
