Occasionally, Santa Claus requires the help of his motorcycle crew to deliver festive joy.
This year, the joyful occasion took place early at Children’s Hospital Colorado located at Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, where thousands of Harley-Davidson enthusiasts flocked in, donating countless toys throughout Sunday morning and early afternoon.
Hospital officials reported that between 1,500 and 2,000 motorcycle riders participated in the 39th annual Harley Toy Run, organized by Mile High Harley.
No rider on two wheels arrived empty-handed; even local first responders contributed bags of toys.
The toys will be utilized by patients through the hospital’s child life specialist team program across the Children’s Hospital Colorado network.
“Watching the smiles on the children’s faces as they line up is just amazing,” expressed Janet Cook, a Harley-Davidson rider, organizer, and CEO of Big Iron Sports, which owns Mile High Harley.
“Giving back to the community, especially to children who are in need or ill, feels incredibly rewarding—especially around Christmas and the holiday season.”
Numerous families, children, and even a Captain America stood outside as thousands of motorcycle riders, toys on their bikes, waved to the crowd while the children waved back from the hospital windows.
“Often, Harley riders and bikers get a bad reputation,” Cook remarked. “However, the riders here are incredibly generous. They deeply value their community and their shared passion for riding. This is a brotherhood—we collectively aim to do good for our community.”
Leeta Davis, a Harley-Davidson rider who contributed two sets of toys and action figures, shared that participating in the toy drive felt significant, calling it “the best of the best.”
Bob Cuculich, a fellow rider and organizer, mentioned, “The entire motorcycle community rallies for this cause.
“We appreciate what the children’s hospital does for our kids; they perform miracles here daily,” he expressed.
Each rider brings at least one toy, but many contribute more, often arriving with bags brimming with toys, according to Blayke Roznowski, a spokesperson for Children’s Hospital Colorado.
“This extraordinarily generous donation will supply thousands of toys to the patients at Children’s Colorado across all campuses throughout the year,” she conveyed.
“We are immensely thankful.”
The toys will be distributed among a network of volunteers alongside child life specialists within the hospital system. The substantial number of toys donated on Sunday is expected to last until at least mid-next year, Roznowski noted.
Cook, now in her first year not riding in the toy drive, concluded, “There is something truly fulfilling about giving rather than receiving, and I believe that’s the essence of this initiative.”
