Bikers Hit the Road to Help Area Kids with Christmas

It's not everyday that you see motorcycles packing the parking lot of a volunteer fire department but that was the case Sunday afternoon in Burkburnett for the Ninth Annual Operation Santa Claus Fun Run.

And many of these bikers, like Stacy Willisa, who is from the Dallas area, came bearing gifts.

"They need the support up here and to make a good showing we come up here and help the kids out that are in need," says Willisa.

"Any biker will tell you they've got a soft spot for kids. Don't matter how big or tough they are," says Lonnie Case.

Lonnie Case is a member of the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club.

It's the organization that's helping facilitate this fun run so fire fighters can help several hundred children have presents under their Christmas tree.

"Our normal is around 350 and we're not done yet. We're in the mid 260 to 270 range right now of kids and, like I said, there's another week left to go so it will probably carry on to the same numbers," explains Chief Rodney Ryalls with the Burkburnett Volunteer Fire Department.

Over the past eight years, Burkburnett fire fighters, along with their little helpers, have delivered Christmas cheer to qualifying parents.

And it's all thanks to bikers participating in this annual fun run.

So, after registering and dropping off a donated toy bikers headed for the highway in their quest to have fun and provide a happy holiday for hundreds of families in need.

For the second year, today's fun run had bikers gathering at the Henrietta Volunteer Fire Department.

And the event ended this afternoon with both groups making their way to Wichita Falls and meeting at Outskirts for an auction and raffle.