People who love to ride their motorcycles will have a chance to do so for hospitalized children this weekend. And all they have to do is give a toy to ride.
Rita Cooper, pediatric unit recreation activity leader, said the second toy ride for Ball Memorial Hospital Pediatric Unit will be at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, sponsored by Faith Riders.
Faith Riders is a Christian ministry organization, which is dedicated to sharing the gospel while on motorcycles, according to the ministry's Web site.
Cooper said the riders would leave the fairgrounds at 9:30 a.m. for a two-hour ride and then return to the Fairgrounds for refreshments. At 2 p.m., riders will be escorted to Ball Memorial Hospital to deliver the toys.
Anyone can donate a toy to the drive Saturday, even if they are not riding with the group, she said.
"You don't have to have a motorcycle, but that's the fun part of it," she said.
Cooper said she was excited for the event, and the hospital might bring some of the patients from the pediatric unit downstairs to receive the toys from the drive.
Pastor Mike Ashby, a Faith Rider from Old Town Hill Southern Baptist church in Muncie, said the riders partner with the hospital about three other times a year to give patients items such as coloring books.
Ashby said he enjoyed riding his motorcycle because it gave him a chance to connect with people who normally might not go to church services.
"It gives folks who do their traditional ministry a chance to do something different," he said.
The regular group of riders includes 15 to 20 people, Ashby said, but he hoped to have about 100 bikes.
"People are always looking for a reason to ride," he said.
The biking ministry has gotten a lot of cards from people at the hospital thanking them for their service, which helps build relationships with people in need, he said.
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