From the moment Teresa Menking arrived at the Walmart Supercenter parking lot early Sunday afternoon, she knew it was going to be a big day.
“We got there right before 1, and the parking lot was already filling up,” she said.
Motorcycle riders wanting to participate in the 12th Annual Toy Run were asked to gather at 1 p.m. with a motorcade to follow. The Toy Run benefits The Salvation Army of Fremont with gifts of new toys for the Joy Shoppe and cash donations to help fill gaps for Christmas presents for low-income children.
The Joy Shoppe is a free Christmas store where parents in low-income families can pick presents for their children just like they were shopping at a regular store.
Menking said her intuition was correct.
“We had 364 bikes in the Toy Run this year,” she said. “We also had some classic cars and additional drivers who weren’t part of the motorcade. When we got the numbers we were thoroughly impressed.”
But she said the record number of motorcycles isn’t what’s most important.
“We collected nearly 1,300 toys for The Salvation Army,” she said. “We had cash donations of more than $3,300. We had some amazing folks challenge some amazing folks this year. This is definitely a record year for this. There are going to be some happy children and families at Christmas.”
For several riders, this event is close to their hearts, including Ron Noble, who was engaged to one of the original organizers of the event, Claudia Marschinke, when she died a few years ago.
“I was with her for eight years,” Noble said. “This is her toy run. I have her boys here with me.”
Menking said Noble now lives in Pennsylvania and can’t make the event every year.
The toy run was held in memory of Marschinke and Linda Gustafson.
“We had people from all over,” Menking said. “We had some from Grand Island. We had some from Iowa.”
Steve Baxter was there from North Platte.
“I have friends in Fremont,” Baxter said. “I’m on vacation, and I happened to be in Lincoln. A friend of mine told me about this. I enjoy events like this, whether it’s a toy run or a poker run. Any bike ride is always for charity. I’m game for that. That’s what makes bikers such nice people.”
Kirk Miller didn’t have far to go at all.
The Fremont resident said any chance to get on a bike is good.
“There’s a lot of people who come here every year who I know,” said Miller, who has made the event for the past seven years. “I don’t always remember their names, but I remember their faces. I love the camaraderie, just seeing everybody and looking at the different bikes. Plus, it’s for a good cause. This is for The Salvation Army.”
For Gerry Rosenthal, it’s his first time to ride in the toy run.
“I’ve never had the time before,” he said. “Today, I have the time, and the weather’s beautiful. This is all about giving and camaraderie.”
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