HERMISTON, Ore.-Starting in Echo under blue skies and breezy conditions, 98 motorcycles, led by Santa, rode to Hermiston on December 6 to donate toys for children at Good Shepherd Health Care System.
“It’s wonderful to see the community come together, even big, burly bikers, to help with toys for kids,” said Santa, as he greeted bikers bearing gifts.
Now in its 22nd year, the Echo Toy Run honors the memory of its founder, Al Sells, while continuing to bring holiday cheer to children.
Honoring the legacy of Al Sells
Al Sells, a longtime motorcycle rider who passed away in 2019, started the Echo Toy Run after moving to Stanfield, OR from Arizona.
“He always had a soft spot for children and wanted to make sure they were cared for during the holidays,” said Sells’ daughter, Amanda Silvani, who continues to organize the event to help children in her father’s honor.
According to Silvani, her father organized similar events in Arizona and continued after moving to Oregon and purchasing his first new Harly-Davidson, and the event became a tradition that he looked forward to all year.
“He would start planning months in advance, personally delivering flyers to friends and reaching out to local newspapers, he loved organizing this event,” said Silvani, whose family found flyers and newspaper clippings from every year of the event in her father’s belongings after his passing.
The Echo Toy Run became a holiday tradition, with bikers and chapters of motorcycle clubs from around the region coming together to collect toys for children every Christmas.
Sells brought the biking community together for the Echo Toy Run, and it was those same bikers who made sure the event continued after his passing, reaching out to Silvani and her sister to ensure the run remained a holiday tradition, with the dual purposes of honoring his legacy and helping children.
“This run is just as close to their hearts as it was to my dad’s,” said Silvani. “It’s incredible to see these bikers-often seen as tough, rugged guys-show up with giant stuffed animals and children’s toys strapped to their bikes, proving they have huge hearts.”
In memory of Brian Erz
This year, a donation from the family and friends of Brian Erz, of Hermiston, who passed away from cancer in May, ensured the largest number of toys ever donated during the Echo Toy Run.
“This was new, we’ve never done cash donations before,” Silvani said. “We got the account and deposits set up and then were able to purchase all these toys. We want to make sure the family and friends of Brian Erz are recognized for their contributions.”
An active member of the Hermiston community, Erz ran Casiday Battery with his father, and was fondly remembered as bikers rolled in with toy donations in his honor throughout the afternoon.
Friends remembered good times spent with Erz camping and off-roading, supporting youth sports as his kids grew up, and recalled that family was everything to him.
“We were friends forever,” said Taylor Miller, of Hermiston. “He would help whoever needed it, whenever and wherever he could.”
The 22nd Annual Echo Toy Run
It was a festive atmosphere as a steady stream of bikers roared into the Good Shepherd parking lot, donated toys and enjoyed coffee, cocoa and refreshments at the Echo Toy Run.
“We’ve been doing this for over ten years,” said Jayme Castellaw, of Hermiston. “It’s just a great way to help kids out.”
Bikers from Echo, Stanfield, Hermiston, Walla Walla, Tri-Cities, and the surrounding regions participated in this year’s toy run, with many citing the weather and the good cause as reasons for the strong turnout.
“This allows us to serve the community and do something for kids that maybe haven’t had the best breaks,” said Shon Durkin, of Walla Walla, who has been riding in the toy run for about six years. “One little smile can heal someone.”
Toys donated during the Echo Toy Run will be distributed to pediatric patients at Good Shepherd throughout the Holiday season.
“Our staff, patients and their families are incredibly grateful for the generous toy donations from the Echo Toy Run,” shared a spokesperson for GSHCS. “Thank you for bringing many smiles to faces this Holiday season.”
