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Toys 4 Tots Motorcycle Run hits the road Saturday

AMIRET — There’s been a lot of change to summer events this year. With everything going on, organizers of the Toys 4 Tots Motorcycle Run aren’t sure what to expect at this weekend’s event.

But at the same time, the economic hardship caused by COVID-19 might mean the Toys 4 Tots mission is more important than ever, said Pamela Cooreman.

“It’s a good cause. That’s kind of why we decided to do it,” she said.

The annual Toys 4 Tots Motorcycle Fun Run starts Saturday morning. Participants in the ride will donate toys to area organizations that help families out in the holiday season.

Cooreman said organizers faced some uncertainty as to whether they would be able to hold the run this year. A lot of other summer events have been postponed or canceled because of coronavirus.

But then, “We figured ‘You know what, we’ll do it,'” Cooreman said. “What we can do this year, we’ll do.”

Stops on the fun run are planned at places where there is outdoor seating available, Cooreman said. The full route of the ride is around 140 miles long, which is a little longer than usual for the event, she said. A single route is planned, but if there’s a large turnout, the ride might split into two groups — one taking the route going in one direction, and the other group taking it in the other.

Cooreman said organizers don’t know how many riders to expect on Saturday. But with fewer motorcycle fun runs taking place this summer, maybe there will more people able to take part in the Toys 4 Tots run.

Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Roaring Lyons clubhouse in Amiret, and the ride leaves at 11 a.m. Participants need to bring a toy to donate to area holiday giving organizations.

“We give back to every county that we go to,” Cooreman said.

This year, donations will go to Heart to Heart, the Murray County Christmas Project, Share the Spirit in Redwood County, Santa’s Sleigh in Yellow Medicine County, and Operation Christmas Joy in Springfield.

At the end of the ride, there will be events like a hog roast, silent auction and door prizes at the Caboose in Tracy. You don’t have to have taken part in the ride to attend the after party, organizers said.

Cooreman said organizers are looking forward to having people coming for the ride, and they’re always looking for new volunteers to help out.

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