Words to Live By

Don't be afraid your life will end; be afraid it will never begin.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Christmas in June - Andrea's Closet

Today was the annual Christmas in June Toy Drive for Andrea's Closet. Andrea's Closet is a local charity organization that helps the kids at St. Joe's Hospital in Phoenix; when kids face frightening medical treatments, such as procedures to treat cancer, burns or other life threatening illnesses, Andrea's Closet brings them comfort and distraction from their pain by allowing them to choose a special gift from a toy-filled closet.

Today...we filled that closet. Not only did we fill it, but they had so many toys, that after filling the closet they had to re-fill the trucks to take the rest of the toys to storage!!! How cool is that?!

The ride was good, but it was HOT...it was 89°F at 6:30 a.m. today. I think it was 102°F when we started the ride at 10:00 a.m. It's 111°F right now (4:00 p.m.) Not pretty.

Not too many idiots on the ride, but there were a few. With so many different groups riding together, there really was no road captain, and that made it difficult. However, a big thank you goes out to the large group of crotch-rocket guys...they blocked traffic for the ride, and they did a great job! Hopefully next year it will be a better ride, and a little cooler!

Here are some pics. Hope you enjoy!
Big D getting ready to roll out. (Actually he's telling me to get the hell on the bike!)
One of the trucks bringing toys to the hospital.
So many bikes....
You can't have Christmas in June without Santa! I can't believe he didn't pass out wearing that suit! It was soooo hot outside!
Whisper waving at me as we're lining up.
This is Tim...he works with Big D...
Getting on the freeway.University of Phoenix Stadium...home of the 2008 Superbowl.
You'd think it would have been cooler in the tunnel, right? Not so much!
And here's a look at today's gas price...it'll probably be $4.23 tomorrow...
Everyone standing behind the Christmas tree was on a bike.
Look at all those toys!

Big D and Stretch with one of the kids from the hospital...


And my final thought for the day (and my favorite patch)...


Ride safe and have fun everyone!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

maybe one day i'll be able to accompany you guys on that ride. got to love those crotch-rocket guys!

Jinjer said...

That's so awesome! What a great cause!!!

Paula said...

That is a great cause! I love doing things for the children's charities. There are many counties here that never receive enough to cover the needs at the Christmas Toys for Tots drive. Breaks my heart.

"Joker" said...

We do a toy run every Christmas and I missed it last year because I was still laid up from my accident. Of all the charity rides we do, the ones I'm happiest to be a part of are the ones that help the children.

Nice ride; nice pics; nice patch!

Jane said...

what a great sense of community!

Veronnica said...

I'm with Rex, someday I'll be accompanying you on these fun rides (but maybe when it's not so hot out!) Anything for a good cause! And I loved the patch!

Kim Thomas said...

Very awesome! What a great thing to participate in.