‘Toys for Tots Motorcycle Ride’ set for Dec. 19

Weather permitting, a “Toys for Tots Motorcycle Ride” is set for this Sunday, Dec. 19.

Beginning at the big Mobil gas station in Garapan at 9am and ending at around 11:30am at the CNMI Marines Recruitment Office along Beach Road. Those interested in learning more about the event or are interested in participating can contact Dr. Dan Chase at 670-285-4490.

Chase said Monday that he has previously taken part in Toys for Tots rides in the U.S. mainland and wanted to bring the tradition to the CNMI. Through talks with some of the CNMI’s motorcycle clubs and talks with fellow Marines in Guam, Chase took it upon himself to make the motorcycle ride a reality.

“Since I’ve been here in the last several years, [I’ve] always looked at what can we do to improve the CNMI. As a prior Marine, one of the big things we always take part of in the States is the Toys for Tots. So I was talking it over with all the bikers out here and [go] ‘Hey, why don’t we do a Toys for Tots Ride?” he said.

Chase noted that a motorcycle ride like this has taken place before, with Latte Built Gym owner Derek Cutting organizing a motorcycle ride and toy donation event some time ago. Regardless if Sunday’s event is the first or second of its kind, Chase said the goal for Sunday’s event is to give back to those in need and for the CNMI’s motorcycle riders to come together for a good cause.

As for what is scheduled for Sunday’s ride, Chase said the riders will first convene at Mobil, go through a safety briefing for 30 to 45 minutes, then hit the road. Along the two-hour ride route, bikers will be picking up toys donated by community members. Chase said he has been making arrangements with the Office of the Governor to possibly have Department of Public Safety and Department of Fire & Emergency Medical Services personnel help in the toy pickup efforts.

At around 11:30am, the ride will end with the drop-off of toy donations at the CNMI Marines Recruitment Office, which is organizing the Toys for Tots program and will take the lead in handing out the toys o underserved children. Chase said that Staff Sgt. Jeremy B. Lizama, who currently works as a recruiter at the office, was interested in holding the Toys for Tots donation there.

Chase said that planning for the motorcycle ride began in late October to early November, and he thanked Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, chief of staff for the CNMI Office of the Governor William “Wil” Mendiola Castro, and motorcycle rider Marie Salas-Igitol for their active support of his plans.

“Two months ago, I talked to the governor and lieutenant governor about wanting to do this and they both gave me the thumbs up and said, ‘Dan, let me know how things progress and let me know if you need help in any way’. …As things really progressed on this, Wil Castro really stepped up and helped out a lot keeping the governor and lieutenant governor informed,” he said.

Chase added that the Office of the Governor will be providing ice chests filled with water to keep riders hydrated for the Sunday ride.

Chase said that Salas-Igitol provided much-needed help with internal organizing and coordinating with bikers. “As I started planning this, Maria was the very first person I reached out to, and…she’s been probably the No. 1 supporter for this. It really could not have happened without her support on the internal side,” he said.

The Marine Toys for Tots program is a program that seeks to distribute toys to underserved children who would have otherwise not been able to afford toys and/or gifts for Christmas.

Chase is a Marine veteran who has been living on Saipan for more than three years now. He moved to the CNMI in July 2019.