Richmond County toy run planned for Pence Place

ROCKINGHAM — Richmond County’s bikers will be cruising the blacktop this weekend to help brighten the Christmas of children with special needs.

Kickstands go up at 1 p.m. Saturday for the second annual toy run for Pence Place.

The ride was organized last year by a group of local lady bikers, led by Taylor Lingren, who wanted to pick up where the N.C. Legends Motorcycle Club left off when it disbanded in 2006.

Pence Place, affiliated with Monarch, has been in operation for three decades and serves children up to age 21 with intellectual and developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injury.

Residential Team Leader Sherry Thompson told the RO last summer that they were only able to spend $75 on each child in 2022, but added that they secured a generous donation from Mike Griffin.

Although the ride portion of the 2023 fundraiser was canceled due to rain, the event still raised $3,760 for the cause.

Lingren and her biker buddies were able to spend more than $480 per child. They also bought $130 worth of books for the Pence Place staff to read to the kids.

Registration for this year’s ride starts at 11 a.m. at the Hide-A-Way Tavern and the convoy will leave at 1 p.m. The cost to ride is $15 for singles and $20 for doubles.

The cost also includes one food plate for each rider registered. Additional plates will be $10 each.

After the ride, there will also be an auction, raffle and 50/50 drawing.

For more information on the Pence Place ride or to donate, contact Lingren or Donald Clifton through Facebook.