History of the Abate / Shriners Toy Run

The ABATE/Shriners Toy Run has been in existence for 38 years. Our first Toy Run was in December 1980. Our early ABATE members were looking for some way to help kids. After calling many hospitals it was the Shriners who were the only ones in the city who would let us bring toys to their kids. Since then our admiration and love for the hospital and the kids they care for has grown to be a very strong bond.

In 1980 there were five bikes and a pickup truck full of toys for the very first Toy Run – a very modest beginning! At that time, the Shriners hospital was on SE 82nd and Sandy Blvd. In 1984 the hospital moved to its new and present location on SW Sam Jackson Park Road. There have been many starting locations over the years. The start of the parade has started at Eastport Plaza, AJ’s Cycle at SE 17th & Powell, under the freeway overpasses in lower Southeast and then finally at Tri-Met’s Center Street Garage. Tri-Met has been very good to us over the years and we will never forget them for that. Our new starting spot is the parking lot at the Fred Meyer Main Office (3800 SE 22nd).

We openly admit that at the very beginning our motives were not all that altruistic. It was a different time back then. Public opinion of bikers was not very good. We thought that if we did something good for kids the general public would think better of bikers. It wasn’t long before we discovered how much affection and compassion we had for the kids. The idea to improve our image was immediately thrown out the proverbial window. We were not worried about our image for public perception can change over time. We became concerned about what we could do for the kids at the hospital. WE DO THIS FOR THE KIDS AND NO OTHER REASON!. We have had great success in collecting a large number of toys and purchasing a huge amount of equipment over the years. The toys bring much joy to the children and the equipment helps make these little one’s lives a lot easier. Motorcyclists and bikers have managed to bring joy and put smiles on a lot of children’s faces over the years.

The motorcycle parade occurs rain or shine. Over the years, we have encountered warm sunshine, snow, ice, freezing winds and plenty of cold Oregon rain. Our largest turnouts have been on the dry sunny days. However, it is always amazing how many riders will participate in the parade on the worst of weather days. We have many many die-hard fans of this event. This is how bikers and riders kick off the Christmas Season.

The toy run has grown a great deal over the years. Our first large year was in 1999 when more than 1,500 motorcycles participated in the parade. It seemed everyone who had a motorcycle came out to support the kids and Uncle Bob Jackson who was sick with cancer. Uncle Bob was much loved by the children of the hospital and by ABATE. Uncle Bob was “Santa” to so many children oer the years. The media did a wonderful job of expressing Uncle Bob's generous heart and his desire to see the kids one last Christmas. Bob's illness would not allow him to see the kids again that year. The news of his illness and his desire to attend the Toy Run generated a huge amount of public interest in Uncle Bob’s story. Because of Uncle Bob and the great person he was, 1999 was our first big attendance year.

We have had many different city officials and local celebrities fulfill the role of Grand Marshall over the years. We have been honored to have the Honorable Mayor Bud Clark, Senator Randy Leonard, Commissioner Lonnie Roberts and radio host Lee Rogers from KUPL serve as Grand Marshals for us. In those days, a child from the hospital took on the role Grand Marshal and was also the hospital child ambassador to the Toy Run. This child participated in our raffle by drawing the grand prize ticket for a brand-new Harley Davidson motorcycle. This never failed to be an exciting time for all. Someone won a new motorcycle and the child ambassador rode in the parade with us.

Over the years thousands of toys have been donated by bikers and motorcyclists. These toys bring joy and comfort to the children of the Shriners Hospital and to their siblings. Toys have a calming effect in an otherwise unfamiliar or stressful situation. So many toys have been donated over the years that the hospital has set aside a special room to house them all. This room is called the “ABATE Toy Room” which was included in the planning of the new addition to the hospital. We are very honored that the hospital chose to do this. Again, that gets back to the special relationship we have with the Shriners.

In the early 1990’s, the Harley Owner's Group from Rose City HOG, Vancouver USA HOG and Sunset HOG had done a wonderful job of providing the marshaling support for the parade. There were plenty of other helpers too. It was not unusual to have 130 marshals show up to help block streets. When our marshals left the run site in advance of the parade, it was like a mini-parade. We were so very fortunate to have so many fine volunteers with their motorcycles ready to keep the parade route safe by blocking intersections and streets.

Riders love to decorate their bikes with all sorts of Christmas decorations. Some riders have even put lights on their bikes! It is not unusual to see motorcycles loaded up with several large clear plastic bags stuffed full of toys. It is a wonder they can ride their bikes, but they always manage to get to the run site without a problem. It is also not unusual to see riders dressed up like Santa or Santa’s Elves. A walk through the meeting site one will find every type and kind of motorcycle imaginable. One will see everything from antique motorcycles, to scooters, to trikes, to sport bikes, to street bikes, to cruisers, to baggers and to Harley choppers. Portland motorcyclists and bikers really get into this Christmas time occasion!

For many years our parade route snaked through the downtown city blocks with the last leg being SW Broadway Street. Here, bystanders were treated to seeing four lanes of roaring motorcycles heading up to see the kids. Due to city mandated traffic changes from the installation of the MAX and trolley rail lines, we could no longer parade through the city. Our parades have taken several different routes since then. Currently, we will take a shorter route directly to the hospital. A big hit for the kids is to see all the motorcycles coming to see them. From the windows of the Shriners Children’s Hospital, the little ones can see us coming across the Ross Island Bridge.

Prior to 2020, Santa led the parade on his Harley Davidson. He was followed by the child ambassador in a Shriners van and by thousands of motorcycles. Once Santa arrived at the hospital he went upstairs for a party with the kids. A few days prior to the Santa party, ABATE received a wish list from the kids who were in the hospital. We got them everything they asked for (within reason). Santa has presented all kinds of special electronic equipment, music, games, clothing, trucks, special dolls and wagons. Each child also received a huge stocking stuffed full of toys, candy and cool goodies. The result was a very joyful time for the kids. Santa, the bikers and the hospital staff had a great time, too!

Every October there had been an equipment presentation at the Hospital where we met the children and families who were to receive equipment purchased from funds raised from our raffle of a Harley Davidson motorcycle. This was a joyous time for the kids, their families, the hospital staff and the bikers. We are very happy we are able to help in this way.

Approximately 25 years ago, we started raffling a Harley Davidson at the Toy Run. The monies raised from the raffle were used to buy needed equipment for over 123 children at the hospital. Over the years we have raised over $500,000.00 for the purchase of wheelchairs, communication devices, computers, braces, van conversions and special bikes.

The motorcycle raffle was our major fundraiser for the kids. On toy run day, we have raised as much as $13,000 prior to the winning ticket being drawn at noon. We sold t-shirts and ride pins prior to the ride which further increased our revenue for the day. We also received donations from organizations such as the Musician’s Toy Run Benefit which has contributed more than $50,000 to the cause over the years. We also received donations from individuals on toy run day.

An unwelcome twist for families is that they had not been able to get equipment due to insurance issues. In many cases the insurance company would only pay for a portion of the equipment leaving an unpaid balance. In these cases, the parent of the child cannot afford to pay the balance and the child has had to go without the item that will improve their life. We at ABATE find this unacceptable and work to pay off the balance allowing the child to get their needed equipment.

ABATE has always been about freedom. The equipment that we were able to purchase for the kids gives them freedom we take for granted. A new wheelchair for a child or any piece of equipment that allows a child to get from place to place with greater ease and enhances their life in some way is liberating. The equipment provided for the kids is also financially liberating for the parents of these children. Caring for a special needs child is very expensive. Many families simply cannot afford new equipment. A power wheelchair can cost as much as $10,000!

The ABATE/Shriners Toy Run has been a part of Portland history for over three decades. This gathering of motorcyclists and bikers is a “coming together” of something greater than ourselves. We come together for the common cause of doing something great for the kids and their families at a critical time in their lives.

The annual Toy Run is our labor of love for the kids of the Shriners Hospital. Our gathering and the parade to the hospital is the premier motorcycle event of the year, there is nothing like it in the city. The gathering allows us to collect thousands of toys that will be given to children throughout the coming year. It also gives us an opportunity to raise money from the sales of t-shirts, ride pins and generous donations which all goes towards the goal of helping the children of the Shriner’s Hospital. It is how bikers and motorcyclists in Portland kick off the Christmas season. We look forward to seeing the kids every year. Our reward is their smile.