FARMINGTON — ATV riders from nearly every New England state joined Franklin County ATV enthusiasts Saturday morning for the 17th annual Toy Run from Farmington to Jay.

Chris Currier, president of Mountain View ATV Club, said even a few Canadian participants come every year to be part of the event. He and other ATV club leaders organize the donation program that provides hundreds of Christmas presents to children in area communities. As he talked, he continued to guide dozens of vehicles down the Whistle Stop trail head near Madore’s Market.

“Right now, we’ve got almost 350 people who have signed up for meal tickets,” Currier said. “It’s more than last year but less than our best year.”

One year, he said, 580 people rode 539 ATVs. Each year, donation totals vary, but he expects to add another $5,000 this year to the Operation Santa Claus fund. Kelly Nichols, of Farmington, riding with her son, Trevor, 5, said she was glad for an opportunity to share with the less fortunate. Trevor picked a doll and race car as the presents, she said, understanding that they would be opened at Christmas by children he would never meet.

“It’s a great opportunity to give something back to the community,” she said. “Besides, it’s a fun day, riding ATVs.”

Nichols said she remembers the thrill of opening presents on Christmas morning, and she wanted to make that happen for other youngsters. Scooter and Sandy Cushman, of Wilton, joined the riders for their second year and echoed Nichols reasons for coming to the event.

“Last year, it was raining hard, and the turnout was anything like it is today,” Scooter Cushman said. “This is a good time, and we enjoy doing it.”

Santa Claus led riders at 10:30 a.m. on the first leg of the trek toward Canton, where the riders dropped off donations. Other riders joined them along the trail system, and the group settled in for lunch, door prizes and entertainment in Jay. Wilton firefighters stopped traffic to let riders cross U.S. Routes 2 and 4. Richard Caton IV, a Jay Police Department detective, and Officer Ryan Rosie of the Farmington Police Department rode with the group. In Jay, the Roxbury ATV Riders Club provided tents and tables for the riders.

“We really want everyone to know how many generous donations we’ve received,” said Bob Dalot, president of the Jay Western Maine ATV Club. “We had local fire departments and police departments helping us with road crossings and traffic control.”

He also noted that landowners who have given permission for riders to cross private land were a big part of making the event a success.

“We can’t thank them enough,” he said. “This is a way to let them know how much we appreciate them.”

For information about the Operation Santa Claus toy program, contact Judy Frost of Western Maine Community Action Program, which serves Franklin County and the Livermore-Livermore Falls area. Call 645-3764, (800) 645-9636 or visit wmca.org.

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