Fort Lauderdale, Florida (May 24, 2017) — Dave Amchir, who oversaw the yearly charity event of bikers riding down South Florida highways with toys strapped on their motorcycles, died Wednesday morning, his friends said.
Amchir, of Tamarac, had a heart attack. He was 54.
Amchir, whose nickname was “Tattoo Dave,” took over the event in 2006 after his father, the Toys in the Sun Run founder, died from leukemia.
Bob Amchir, the founder of the toy run, in 2001 Photo - Tim Ribar
The fundraising event is billed by organizers as the world's largest motorcycle parade as bikers zip down interstates 95 and 595, which are closed by police. The bikers wind up at a festival of music and food where riders turn in their toy or cash.
Kevin Janser, senior vice president and chief development officer at Memorial Healthcare System, said the money donations contributed to the construction of a new hospital in Hollywood.
Jacqueline and Alex Villalobos are part of "Los Chuchos" a Colombian Biker Group.
Photo - Anastasia Walsh Infanzon
“He certainly made a lot of difference to us and a lot of children,” he said. “We have kids where that stuffed toy is the only toy they get at Christmas.”
A decade into the charity event, in 1999, the bulk of the toys and cash were directed to the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation, the nonprofit arm of its namesake hospital, for children in need. Since then, the bikers are credited with raising about $4 million in cash to benefit the hospital and the “number of toys is uncountable,” said foundation spokesman Stu Opperman. “Literally there are 1,000 kids every single year who get toys through their effort.”
And “not just at Christmas,” but at holiday parties and other events, he said. Janser said there are so many toys donated, that the hospital often saves them to give out year-round.
Twin sisters, Victoria (L) and Caroline Schmist, from Boco Raton wait for the start of the Toy Run in 2015 Photo- Joe Cavaretta
The annual toy run attracts between 60,000 to 70,000 people each year, both riders and their passengers, Opperman said. It typically starts in north Broward and ends in various locations, usually the south part of the county.
Riders walk through a sea of bikes at the toy run at Markham Park in 2006 Photo-Omar Vega
Dave Amchir’s father was Bob Amchir, a former New York City police officer who ran a business making motorcycle helmets. In 1988, he created the toy run with just 700 participants. His efforts earned him the USA Presidential Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2006, the Humanitarian Award from the town of Davie in 2004 and the Spirit of Healing Award from Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital.
“Motorcycle riders have a bad rap of being bad guys,” Bob Amchir told the Sun Sentinel in 2000. “We strive to help everyone where we can, if it's in our power.”
When his father died, Dave Amchir took over the event with the same enthusiasm.
Dave Amchir was also the national president of the Wings of Gold Motorcycle Club, also a role he inherited after his dad.
Dave Amchir, (M) and his wife, comfort each other during a tribute in 2006 to his father who founded the toy run Photo-Omar Vega
“We’re going to continue to do our charity,” said friend Joey Quinter, the vice president of the local chapter of the Wings of Gold Motorcycle Club, who said the Toys in the Sun Run would continue as planned Dec. 10.
“He always stood for the right thing, never the wrong thing, that you were never taller when you’d bend down to help a child,” he said. “When they made him, they broke the mold.”
Funeral arrangements are pending.
SOURCE: Sun Sentinel