LEWISTON — That leather-clad biker next to you at the red light — the one with the black sunglasses and the family of gnats lodged in his beard — is a defender of the less fortunate and a guardian of the Christmas spirit.

Sunday marked the 33rd annual United Bikers of Maine Toy Run, bringing thousands of bikers to Augusta and then on to Windsor for a day of riding, checking out each other’s rides and, most of all, bringing Christmas to children in need.

Volunteers arrived at 5 a.m., setting up breakfast for 600 at L-A Harley-Davidson. Riders began rolling in before 7:30 a.m. for French toast, sausage and, most of all, hot coffee to brace against the chill of the nearly fall morning. The breakfast, courtesy of John Story, Managing Partner at L-A Harley, was manned by the Mid-Maine Lewiston Hog Chapter.

Chapter Director Kathy Yergin of Lisbon Falls described the chapter as a riding group that “rides and has fun,” besides putting on fundraisers for Story.

Inside, Story was talking with fellow riders as they checked out Harley-Davidson apparel as well as the latest bikes.

“Going good — good weather,” Story said, “It’s something we’ve been looking forward to, quite frankly.”

Although in the Harley business himself, Story said, “It doesn’t matter what you ride, whether you ride a Harley, a Honda or a Kawasaki,” he said, “it’s about having fun.” Story said riders like to tease each other about what they’re riding but at the end of the day, it’s a brotherhood and sisterhood among all who love to ride.

Story said he is seeing a “rejuvenation of the sport” where he sees more young riders and more female riders than before.

A veteran of many charitable events, Story said, “It’s just a personal belief that we need to give something back and we try to do things that help kids specifically,” as well as children who are sick or who have life-threatening illnesses.

With back-to-back fundraisers, Story said his next event will be Aimee’s Night on Friday at the Ramada Inn in Lewiston. “This is a young lady that had been given her last rites,” Story said of Aimee Driscoll, the young mother of a child with autism. Driscoll suffered from cystic fibrosis and recently received a double-lung transplant.

Story said Driscoll’s story is amazing in itself and he said that although she is doing well and recovering from her surgery, he said the family faces “monstrous” bills. Story credits the Gendron family, owners of the Ramada Inn, for working with him to put on the fundraiser.

The L-A Harley website lists live entertainment as well as chances to win Patriots tickets, NASCAR tickets and even a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Senator Angus King had just arrived from Brunswick on his Harley-Davidson V-Rod and was greeting other riders, decked out in his leather Harley jacket and chaps. “It was a little chilly,” King said of the ride but he was happy with his machine. “I never got it out of fourth gear,” he said. “It’s a pretty hot bike.

“This is an annual pilgrimage — I don’t know if it’s is still true but this used to be the biggest one-day charity event in Maine when you add up the value of all the toys that 8,000 or 10,000 bikers bring to Augusta,” King said. “It’s a wonderful thing.”

Getting ready for the ride to Augusta, Roger Bradstreet and his daughter, Elizabeth, 8, from Brunswick, saddled up and made sure their cargo was secure. Elizabeth, who has been riding with dad since she was four, said she didn’t pick out the pink bike with training wheels but seemed happy with the choice regardless.

All along the roadside, people stood or sat in lawn chairs. Some took pictures, others just watched. It was the kids who were really making out. On Route 202 in Lewiston, Mason Woodbury, 11, and his brother Sawyer, 10, stood holding signs — one with a target that read “throw candy” and the other in big letters “thank you.”

Their parents, Kevin and Michelle Woodbury, said the boys have been partaking in the tradition of riders throwing candy to kids along the way since they were about four years old. They credited the generosity of the bikers who not only rallied every year buying toys for those less fortunate, but also rewarding kids along their route.

The staging point at the Augusta Civic Center was packed with riders from Maine and beyond, waiting to continue the trek to the Windsor Fair Grounds. License plates around the crowded and noisy lot ranged from New York, Pennsylvania and even Montana.

There was at least one person dressed as Santa among the group and one bike with a built-in matching kennel for a dog named Tucker. It was a time for riders from all over to meet, greet and check out each other’s bikes. The group went on to Windsor with a police escort and one of the Santas leading the way. It took over 12 minutes for the ground-shaking wave of chrome and steel to exit the parking lot.

In Windsor, music played and bikers chowed down on fair food as a long line stretched in front of the donations area in the Beano Hall, which was quickly filling up. Governor LePage arrived with first lady Ann LePage arriving on the back of United Bikers of Maine President Darrell Spears’ Harley.

Ann LePage was wearing a leather vest adorned with patches honoring military members and veterans. The back of the vest was covered by a Patriot Guard Riders patch. “It was a little chilly,” LePage said, although she said she wouldn’t complain, having ridden in the snow and rain in the past.

She said she would participate in Wreaths Across America again this year, riding from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery. LePage said she had a rider lined up to take her as she does not have a motorcycle license. She took that opportunity to rib her husband about buying her a trike.

Governor LePage took the podium to a roar of applause from the fairground. He thanked all in attendance “for all the support you give for our kids, because at the end of the day it is about our children.

“Your support has a great deal to do with the contributions and the award that Maine received this past week relative to the Pete Taylor Partnership of Excellence Award,” LePage said, “the award for the military child education coalition.”

LePage told the riders how great it was to see not only the number of riders, but also the number of families riding together. He said the United Bikers of Maine were “truly a great organization for our state. You do a lot for the state and we thank you so, so dearly.”

LePage said, “The toy run, the 33rd year — and I will tell you, it would have been really, really great if you had been around 50 years ago, because I could have got a Christmas present.”

LePage said that he and Ann have worked with the toy run in various capacities over the years.

“We’ve been doing it off and on many, many years,” he said, adding that when he was with Marden’s, he used to get accused of stashing away toys so they could be diverted to charity.

LePage said that while working with the Salvation Army, he saw firsthand what the United Bikers of Maine meant to that charity. “Most toys came from these bikers,” he said.

dmcintire@sunjournal.com

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