41st annual Biker Toy Run marks beginning of Christmas in Pueblo

The heart of the Christmas season is here. However, in Pueblo people don’t just welcome the holiday with simple carols, but with the sound of heavy motorcycles. This morning was the city’s 41st Bikers United Toy Run.

More than one thousand bikers rode from Pueblo South High School to Pueblo East High School for this year’s toy run.

Without the toy run, many kids in Pueblo wouldn’t wake up to toys Christmas morning.

“This is all love right here,” said Joe ‘Hamr’ Arellano. The biker has participated in the toy run in Pueblo for decades back when they were nowhere near filling out high school parking lots.

“We love the kids we love to do what we can do to help,” said Arellano.

“Back when this started there were maybe thirty bikes, so it has come a long way from then,” said Ramona Trujillo, a co-President of the Pueblo Bikers United Toy Run.

Trujillo says the event began between five bikers back in 1978. Today hundreds of motorcycle riders donate toys and cash for the kids in need. Including a family that donates thirty bicycles for the kids.

All the toys are given to seventeen various agencies so that they can get to families in need right in Pueblo.

“It doesn’t matter what you ride,” said Trujillo. “It doesn’t matter what group you are with. We are all kind-hearted and generous at Christmas .” For these bikers, Christmas doesn’t start in Pueblo until the motorcycle engines do. “It’s not Christmas until we do this,” said Arellano. “I don’t care how cold it is I’m on my trike, I’m here baby!”