Biking for kids and the ‘Joy of Giving’

Bikers will burn a little tarmac Sunday to fuel early interest in an annual Christmas gift-giving drive now in its 20th year.

The fundraiser is called The Joy of Giving, which Marco Islander Nicki Davis has organized since 1988 as a way of enabling parents of underprivileged local children to buy them Christmas gifts.

Her mantra throughout that time is that the kids are able to go back to school after the seasonal break and tell their friends: “Santa came to my house, too.”

Down the years, Davis has seen the number of recipient children swell from just three in one family, to around 1,000 kids this year.

That translates to about $100,000 needed to buy each child about $100 worth of clothing and gifts.

Ernie Bordon, a biker and owner of Autocraft Collision Center, has supported Davis and her volunteers from the outset, and this year hopes to chip in to the tune of about $10,000 with the ride.

It starts with an 8 a.m. breakfast at Porky’s Last Stand restaurant, followed by the ride (last bike out at 9:30 a.m.) out to Junkanoo’s in Fort Myers, back via the Iron Rhino Saloon and Stan’s Idle Hour Restaurant on Goodland, and then a short hop returning to Porky’s.

“This is the best charity of the year,” said Bordon, “because it’s for the kids around Christmas. No matter how bad the economy is, I think everyone cam spare just a little bit for this cause. You reap what you sow, and this is a good one.”

The Stan’s Idle Hour stop will feature a 50-50 raffle promotion, Bordon said, while many other attractive raffle items will be up for grabs upon the return to Porky’s.

Cost of the outing is $25 per bike, while lunches back at Porky’s are just $5.

Bordon said bikers as well as anybody simply wanting to see some of the action are welcome, as are donations (made out to The Joy of Giving). Anyone is welcome to attend the auction, which begins at 3 p.m.

Traditionally, the major contributor to the charity is the Island Country Club. Details of its efforts this year, as well as more about the origins of The Joy of Giving will appear in the Eagle’s Nov. 26 edition.