Final Tucker's Toy Run brings thousands of toys for St. Luke's pediatrics

In 2011, Rick Nauman started a toy drive for St. Luke’s University Hospital pediatric patients, named Tucker’s Toy Run in honor of his friend Tucker Stuart, who died in a motorcycle crash that year.

In that first year, roughly 60 motorcyclists left from the Tri-Boro Sportsmen Club in Northampton Borough with a collection of about 100 toys to drop off at St. Luke’s Bethlehem location.

On Saturday, Nauman led about 1,000 motorcyclists to drop off another load of toys for the final time.

“It’s wild to me that there’s this many people here to support this cause,” Nauman told the crowd. “It’s crazy, it’s just overwhelming.”

Roughly 60,000 toys have been donated to the hospital over the past 15 years, he estimated. This year was the last year for the run, a bittersweet moment for Nauman, who never expected it to grow the way it did.

“There’s nothing like this,” he said.

Nauman, of Catasauqua, worked with Stuart for a little bit before he died. After his death, Nauman asked his family if they could do a toy drive in his honor. It’s grown considerably over the years, in part because of how generous the motorcycle community is, he said.

“They just open their hearts and wallets,” Nauman said.

Volunteers help to unload toys during the last Tucker Toy...

Volunteers help to unload toys during the last Tucker Toy Run for St. Luke’s pediatric patients on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at St. Luke’s University Hospital in Fountain Hill . (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Brian Smith of Emmaus gives Jen Boandl a hug during the last Tucker Toy Run for St. Luke’s pediatric patients on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at St. Luke’s University Hospital in Fountain Hill . (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Motorcyclists arrive for the last Tucker Toy Run for St. Luke’s pediatric patients on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at St. Luke’s University Hospital in Fountain Hill . (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Rick Nauman of Northampton, organizer for Tucker Toy Run, poses with Pat Gubich, St. Luke’s Pediatric Patient Caregiver, during the last Tucker Toy Run for St. Luke’s pediatric patients on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at St. Luke’s University Hospital in Fountain Hill . (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Cooper Ward of Emmaus helps to unload toys during the last Tucker Toy Run for St. Luke’s pediatric patients on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at St. Luke’s University Hospital in Fountain Hill . (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

People gather during the last Tucker Toy Run for St. Luke’s pediatric patients on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at St. Luke’s University Hospital in Fountain Hill . (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Rick Nauman of Northampton, organizer for Tucker Toy Run, speaks during the last Tucker Toy Run for St. Luke’s pediatric patients on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at St. Luke’s University Hospital in Fountain Hill . (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Hundreds of toys during the last Tucker Toy Run for St. Luke’s pediatric patients on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at St. Luke’s University Hospital in Fountain Hill . (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Rick Nauman of Northampton, organizer for Tucker Toy Run, and Sheila Yudt of Northampton during the last Tucker Toy Run for St. Luke’s pediatric patients on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at St. Luke’s University Hospital in Fountain Hill . (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

People gather for a photo during the last Tucker Toy Run for St. Luke’s pediatric patients on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at St. Luke’s University Hospital in Fountain Hill . (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

A trailer of toys for the last Tucker Toy Run for St. Luke’s pediatric patients on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at St. Luke’s University Hospital in Fountain Hill . (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Adaline Figueroa, 8, of Northampton helps to unload toys during the last Tucker Toy Run for St. Luke’s pediatric patients on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at St. Luke’s University Hospital in Fountain Hill . (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

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He said after 15 years, however, it had become a lot of work to put it all together. It felt like it was a good time to end it.

“I would like to go out on top,” he said.

Nauman, followed by a few first responder vehicles, led motorcyclists down Ostrum Street as they brought a trailer and small busload of toys to St. Luke’s University Hospital in Fountain Hill. A number of supporters lined the streets and cheered them on as they made their final stop.

All kinds of toys, including dolls, Lego sets, board games and Hot Wheels, were unloaded by motorcyclists and hospital staff.

Pat Gubrich, patient care manager for the pediatric unit, said a toy in the hands of a child in their care goes a long way. It makes their experience there a little bit better by bringing them some happiness in what can be a difficult time.

“Honestly, it touches so many lives,” she said.

Sometimes a parent can’t be there during a portion of their child’s stay. The children may also be facing a difficult procedure. A toy can help put them at ease. They are handed out to kids throughout the year.

“We’re just so blessed,” Gubrich said.

Wendy Lazo, president of St. Luke’s in Fountain Hill, told the group that the work they did was incredible. She noted they all united for a single cause.

“That’s not that common,” she said. “And it’s pretty … awesome.”

Nauman said he had no idea what he was doing when he started the toy run, which also raised over $500,000 over the past 15 years. It became something he never expected, and it shows what people can do when they put themselves out there, he said.

“I hope people are inspired by what we have done.”

Final Tucker’s Toy Run brings thousands of toys for St. Luke’s pediatrics

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