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Toys for Tots Bike Ride draws strong support
U.S. Marines in uniform, Toys for Tots Bike Ride organizer and Marine veteran Dr. Dan Chase, and some of the CNMI’s motorcycle riders share a photo at the Mobil gas station along Middle Road, the starting point for bikers before they went off on their Toys for Tots Bike Ride on Sunday. (COMMONWEALTH BUREAU OF MILITARY AFFAIRS)
Between 35 to 40 people took part in Sunday’s Toys for Tots Bike Ride, with the big turnout coming from the CNMI’s club-affiliated and independent motorcycle riders.
U.S. Marine veteran Dr. Dan Chase, who described the event as a success, said in a phone call Sunday that the number of participants fluctuated during the ride, with some joining or leaving the ride as it was underway.
Chase added that there was a change to the ride plans, with the starting and rendezvous point for bikers remaining the same but the ride now beginning at around noon and the new dropoff point for the toys becoming Hyatt Regency Saipan at 2pm, where a contingent of U.S. Marines received the donated toys.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and first lady Diann Torres join U.S. Marines in uniform, Toys for Tots Bike Ride organizer and Marine veteran Dr. Dan Chase at the Mobil gas station along Middle Road. (COMMONWEALTH BUREAU OF MILITARY AFFAIRS)
Saipan Tribune previously reported that the ride would begin at the Mobil gas station along Middle Road at 9am and end with a toy donation dropoff at the Marines Recruitment Office along Beach Road at around 11:30am.
As for how many toys were donated, Chase said it was “truckloads” and “boxes on boxes,” with the CNMI’s club-affiliated and non-affiliated riders stepping up for the Toys for Tots program.
After two months of planning and coordinating with the CNMI’s bikers and other community partners, Chase said he was just happy to see everyone, non-riders included, come together to give back to children in need.
A contingent of U.S. Marines receive the donated toys at the Hyatt Regency Saipan. (DAN CHASE)
“Great turnout; a lot of people came out to support. …A lot of people who don’t even ride [motorcycles] came out to support, and that was amazing. …Everybody just really came together for the sake of the kids. …Everybody was very thankful for it, and they definitely want to start seeing this happen every year from now on,” added Chase.
