Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/776310
52 nFebruary 2017n www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS by Sue Bee Dolan COOS BAY, ORE., DEC. 11—We were met with grey skies and a chill in the air as we drove into town to meet up with Walt and Sandy of Coos Cycle Supply. They seem to take on the persona of Santa and Mrs. Claus come December, and on this 11th of December we were meeting up with them in a warehouse donated by O'Neills Garage Doors & Continuous Gutters located in the Eastside district of Coos Bay, Oregon. All year long Walt and Sandy raise funds for the children of Coos County who would go without for the holiday. The place was full of Santas, biker helpers, and even some children joined in to put together over 100 bicycles for the Bykes for Tykes event. I got a kick out of seeing some big burly dudes putting together tiny pink bicycles and some of the smaller children were trying to help put together the bigger bicycles. After a few hours the warehouse was full of bikes and smiling bikers and the smaller kids were beaming with pride. Sandy took a time-out to go and get everyone doughnuts. She arrived in her Santa hat with her huge welcoming grin and boxes of fresh doughnuts for everyone. December 18 could not have been more perfect weatherwise. We got up, put on our leathers and hopped on the bike to head down the road. Although the sun was out and the skies were a beautiful blue it was frosty freezing cold. Days like these, leathers are a much-appreciated item to own. Eric had bought us heated jacket liners for our trip to Ireland a few years ago and what a difference they make on cold days. Just plug right into the bike and voila! Heat! Makes for a comfortable, gorgeous winter wonderland ride. A half hour later we arrived at Coos Cycle Supply on Second Street in Coos Bay where more than 200 bikers were gathered with several trucks and vans full of bicycles, clothes and toys. Sandy was running around greeting everyone on bikes with a smile and an offi cial 2016 Bykes for Tykes Santa hat. Previous years' hats were red, but this year's hats were green; she said she wanted to mix it up a bit. Walt was busy directing, counting and checking his list twice. He said they have been doing this for 17 years. Bykes for Tykes works with local charity organi- zations to fi nd out which families need help and almost always everything falls into place and no one gets left out. Second Street was full of over 200 riders all lining up to parade through Coos Bay and North Bend, and then on to the Salvation Army. This is one day of the year we bikers are allowed COOS CYCLE SUPPLY BYKES FOR TYKES TOY RUN The wheel deal Three years, 500 bicycles Eric Dolan (l) and his burly brethren pitched in to make a Merry Christmas for local families in need by Shannon Parker VANCOUVER, WASH., DEC. 10—2016 has certainly been an inter- esting year. Diffi culties abounded; we lost some great folks in our riding community this year and the warm summer sadly resulted in several brothers and sisters struggling to recover from more than just bumps and bruises. As a result of our com- munities' struggles a call to action came early and strongly as folks began calling for opportunities to give back and help others in need. Folks needed to fi nd some good in their world. Local clubs banded together to assist recov- ering riders and their families, but the need to ensure everyone felt special and spoiled by the season of giving was even greater in 2016. As a result, Heidi Slagle and her good friend Lisa Bridgeman joined forces once again to ensure there was A Christmas For All. A Christmas For All has been providing holiday cheer to a special group of Vancouver residents for over 15 years, and this holiday run focuses exclusively on our seniors in need. One of the original founders of this event, Top, was on hand again this year reminding volunteers of how this event started off as helping just one or two folks with little things, like a holiday meal for one, to now serving over 40 seniors. There are a variety of events in the Portland and Vancouver metro area that focus on the needs of our youth, but only A Christmas For All specifi cally serves seniors. Heidi stated that seniors are her focus because often they are missed as these grandmas and grandpas are unable to get out and about like they used to. This group becomes faceless, but they are never less important. In an effort to support those that helped us get where we are today, Heidi, the owner of Cruise-In Consignment, once again opened her shop's doors to accept the regular fl ow of pajamas, socks, slippers, warm blankets and other special items for local folks in need. This is the fourth year Heidi and Lisa have been leading the event and they strive to serve as many folks in need as they can. Heidi was very excited to announce that our local biker commu- nity adopted all 43 folks on the list. Generosity was abundant. After years of drought, La Niña has decided to arrive in the Northwest in the form of snow and ice. Call us weather wimps, but we are just not equipped to handle sheets of ice on a 17-percent downgrade that will never see the benefi ts of gravel or a snow- plow, let alone salt. Nope, we just have to pull those big boy pants on a little tighter and hang on for the ride to ensure we reach our destination. Channeling their inner pioneer, Santa's elves were not about to be deterred on party day. They claimed to be like A CHRISTMAS FOR ALL RUN Hello in there A toy run for the elderly Local legend, CMA's own Polar Bear Run Mascot was on hand to warmly welcome chiller riders See "Tykes Toy Run," page 62, column 1 See "Christmas for all," page 63, column 1