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Big, Bad Bikers Show Their Soft Spot For Kids

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - The boys and girls at Children's Hospital Colorado got a little holiday cheer Sunday morning after toys were dropped off by Santa Claus, firefighters and more than 1,000 Harley-Davidson riders.

The event is called the Children's Hospital Toy Run.

"You can smell it, you can feel it ... today is just very, very meaningful to us at Children's," Kathleen McBride with Children's Hospital said.

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Cruising in on an old fire truck, Santa Claus joined hundreds of bikers for the very special delivery.

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"It's very rewarding to me to be able to bring joy to all the children here and to have the wonderful bikers to come and help me out," Santa said.

It was the 31st annual Toy Run -- all in an effort to bring joy to young patients for the holidays.

"The ride is always great, but it's coming to see the children ... breaks your heart seeing them sick," Harley rider Joe Dolance said.

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"I love the motorcycles," said 5-year-old Jensen Brooke from Atlanta who is receiving treatment for a rare condition.

Dolance's cuddly gift gave her reason to smile.

Seeing the motorcycles was fun for Harrison Gulick. He just had surgery Saturday after a motocross accident.

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"To have all that stuff and then be able to come out here and have a bunch of people here that support you that you don't even really know ... makes you feel really good," Gulick said.

It's a feeling the bikers hope lasts through the holidays and beyond.

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"I don't know if this is the right term, but it adds normalcy to the kids. Gets them out of their rooms," McBride said. "They can socialize, forget that they're in the hospital, even if it's just for an hour."

The gifts collected will be used throughout the year in playrooms as rewards for treatment, and as holiday gifts for the young patients.

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