Blue Knights ride to rescue of disadvantaged

Knights of old rode trusty steeds and rescued fair maidens — but here, in the real world, Danville’s Blue Knights are riding to bring toys to disadvantaged children this Christmas.

The Blue Knights, a motorcycle group of 24 retired law enforcement officers, is in its third year of teaming with Thunder Road Harley-Davidson and Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon to donate toys to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.

The run will take place this Sunday and will start at Thunder Road on Riverside Drive, west of Danville, with registration at 12:30 p.m. The ride, led by Santa and Mrs. Claus, will begin at 2 p.m. and end at Lone Star, where refreshments will await riders and supporters who donate a toy.

“Anybody who wants to ride a bike, follow in their car or just bring a toy is welcome,” said Keith Johnson, president of the Danville chapter of the Blue Knights and an employee of Thunder Road.

The registration fee for the ride is one new, unwrapped toy with a value of at least $10, or a $10 donation to purchase a toy.

The first 100 riders to register will receive a commemorative ride pin.

People have already begun to donate toys and a huge box at Thunder Road is filling rapidly, but more are needed, Johnson said.

“We’ve been collecting toys at Christmas for nine years, as long as the club has been here,” he said. “Three years ago, when this (Thunder Road) opened, we teamed with them and the restaurant to do the Toys for Tots run.”

Johnson said last year there were about 70 riders, but the event has drawn as many as 150.

“It all depends on the weather and other commitments,” he said. “We’ve had people come from as far away as Virginia Beach and Richmond, and had people follow the bikes in classic cars and old pickups.”

Johnson said anyone who can’t make the run on Sunday is welcome to drop toys off at Thunder Road, 4960 Riverside Drive, during normal business hours until mid-December, when the Marines will pick them up.

Facts about Toys for Tots

• The U.S. Marines Corps Reserve has been operating the Toys for Tots program for 60 years, and has distributed over 370 million toys to 173 million needy children, according to the history of the organization posted on their Web site, www.toysfortots.org.

• Many famous names have been associated with the program right from the beginning: Walt Disney designed the familiar Toys for Tots train logo and a poster to launch the program in 1948.

• Until 1979, the Marines collected new or used toys, refurbishing the used ones themselves on Reserve drill weekends. Due to increased duties requiring more intensive drilling, concerns about the safety of distributing used toys and the stigma attached to “hand-me-down” presents, they have collected only new toys since 1980.

• Toy drives take place in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Contact Denice Thibodeau at dthibodeau@registerbee.com or (434) 791-7985.