Photo by Mike Lamb Motorcyclists line up behind Scott Johnson, dressed in a Santa suit Saturday in Amiret to start the 28th Annual Toys 4 Tots Motorcycle Fun Run. Event organizer Pamela Cooreman rode on the bike with Johnson.

AMIRET — Retired pastor Homer Dobson has been delivering the prayer before the bikers take off during the Toys 4 Tots Motorcycle Fun Run for “many, many” years.

Before Saturday’s prayer under the shelter at the Roaring Lyons clubhouse in Amiret, Dobson announced this would be his last Toys 4 Tots prayer.

“I’m turning 94. This will be my last one,” Dobson told the nearly 100 motorcyclists and riders standing near the clubhouse.

And then he delivered his prayer.

“Through our love some little kid can be just thrilled on Christmas morning to open a gift and laugh and rejoice because someone remembered them because of common love which comes from your loving heart and your very soul. So Father, as these bikers leave and as they past individuals, we pray that they crack their throttles, let their noise be heard. That sound be a reminder of the power of your voice,” Dobson said.

With that, the riders hopped on their bikes and formed a line behind Santa Claus on his bike to begin the 28th annual run that started in Amiret and continues with stops that included Marshall and Wood Lake, while ending in Tracy.

This year’s run was special for Curt Canfield from Larchwood, Iowa. Originally from Slayton, Canfield rode in the early years of the Toys 4 Tots and eventually got other family members involved. His dad and mother ran the event for several years. Both of them recently died.

“Dad used to run this Toys 4 Tots Run. He did it for six years,” Canfield said. “Mom was a pack rat. Every year she collected toys. She just kept buying more and more toys. Anytime she found something, she would buy it. When they passed, we found all the toys unopened.”

Canfield donated all those toys to this year’s Toys 4 Tots.

This will probably be the last year that Tamara Schons and Pamela Cooreman organize the event.

“We feel it’s time for somebody else run it,” Schons said. “We didn’t know what to expect with this whole COVID thing. We just did our best.”