For the 13th year, motorcyclists from everywhere assembled for the annual Tucker’s Toy Run, riding from Northampton to St. Luke’s University Hospital in Fountain Hill to deliver thousands of toys for distribution to pediatric patients throughout the hospital network. “Thank you for being a part of this tremendous event. We put a lot of smiles on the faces of kids,” event organizer Rick Nauman said, who works through the nonprofit organization Lehigh Valley Community Benefit to do this and other community help events throughout the area.

An estimated 700 bikers participated in the 2023 event Nov. 4 arriving at the hospital’s main entrance on Ostrum Street in the early afternoon. The sirens and horns of public safety vehicles from the pass-through communities along the procession’s route announce their arrival with some motorcyclists wearing holiday hats and outfits.

St. Luke’s pediatrics staff offer a warm welcome to the participants with treats and beverages as the vehicles are unloaded and toys placed into hospital carts.

Biker Brian ‘Bucca’ Minotti, of Martins Creek, summed up his Biker’s Against Cop Killers chapter’s participation by saying, “This ride to us is one of the most important rides because of what St. Luke’s does for the community.”

Nauman said the 13 rides have delivered over 60,000 toys to St. Luke’s pediatrics.

Tucker’s Toy Run is done in memory of Tucker Stuart, who died in a motorcycle crash in October 2011.