CENTERFIELD—Motorcyclists hit the road Saturday to ride for a good cause.
The riders cruised down Main Street in Centerfield for the 2nd annual Motorcycle Fun Run, a charitable ride that collected donated toys and cash for the Sanpete County Sub For Santa and Toys For Tots.
Sam Martinez, 40, of Manti, was the event organizer, and he put it together for the second year in a row in an effort to make a positive impact in the community during the holidays.
“It feels good to be able to help kids and families that are in need,” Martinez told the Messenger. “I’ve been riding for a lot of years and been to lots of toy runs. I thought our community could use something like this.”
Martinez, who is originally from New Mexico, moved to Sanpete County eight years ago for his job on an oil rig. He now works with at-risk youth, and after hearing about Kay Jensen’s work helping struggling families at Christmastime, he reached out to her to express his desire to contribute in some way.
Martinez knew a good friend from New Mexico who started a motorcycle toy run 3 years ago, so he pitched the idea to Jensen and organized the first-ever Sanpete-based run last year, which raised a full box of toys to go towards the programs.
This year, although there were less riders, the fun run raised two full boxes of toys and $185 in cash donations, Martinez says.
After the riders raised their kickstands and took off from Centerfield, they made their way north to their destination, the Contoy Arena in Mt. Pleasant, where they “fueled up” with donuts, coffee and hot chocolate donated by Terrell’s Market.
Martinez told the Messenger he wanted to thank Tony Jacklin at TNT Powersports in Centerfield for allowing them to use his business as the starting location, and Jack Widdison for letting them use the Contoy Area for their destination.
“It was a nice ride, not too cold,” Martinez said. “I hope it gets bigger in years to come. You don’t need a motorcycle to participate. You can come in a car. Just come out and donate to the kids.”