29TH ANNUAL TOY BOWL SET FOR OCTOBER 11

SEE PHOTOS OF LAST YEAR'S CONTEST INTHE GALLERIES!

Football season is here, and that means everyone is playing ball, including Pueblo Bikers United.

Get ready, ‘cause the 29th Annual PBU Toy Bowl kicks off Saturday October 11th. The annual event features the Pueblo Bikers United football team butting heads with a team representing Pueblo area cops in a flag football contest that is a landmark among Colorado charity events.

Last year, PBU made it three wins in a row in handing the cops a solid 33-24 loss. The cops lead the series 15-13.

“They (the cops) are always tough,” said PBU defensive end JT Trujillo. “This is never easy. Just look at the record—they’ve beaten us more than we’ve beaten them. It’s really something to look forward to.”

“We’re getting closer to tying it up,” said PBU’s Ramona Trujillo. “We’ll get there in another few games.”

"This is grass-roots Pueblo football right here,” volunteer announcer Tony Wright said of the annual game.

“Things get pretty intense out there sometimes,” said one PBU player. “It’s football—you’re supposed to hit.”

Once again, this year’s game will be played at Pueblo County High School, at 35th Lane and Highway 50 east in Pueblo. Kick off is slated for 11a.m.; with the festivities getting underway at 10:30 a.m. Admission to the game is $5 or a new toy. A poker run and party usually follows the game.

While keeping the title is an important goal, it’s not the biggest goal.

“We’re all about helping kids,’ explained Trujillo. “It’s all about kids, really. As important as the game is to the guys, raising a little money to help kids who need it is really the goal. And to win the game.”

A registered non-profit organization, PBU has raised and donated more than $100,000 since the event started 31 years ago.

“The Toy Bowl gets a lot of attention,” she said, “but we do other things too. We have our toy run every December…this year will be the 31st year for that, and in the spring we put on our Challenge Of Compassion. We also started a scholarship fund for kids from the Pueblo area. We stay pretty busy.”

Busy or not, the focus is turning to football for the PBU team, which competes in the city football league.

The PBU toy Bowl is believed to be the longest-running event of its kind in the country.

This year, PBU co-president John Trujillo will be playing in his 29th consecutive toy Bowl…a record. The rest of the PBU team is just as focused and dedicated, a fact not lost on the law enforcement squad.

“They always worry us. They’re always tough. You’ve got to work for the points,” said Troy Chacon, a Pueblo County sheriff’s deputy.

Everyone involved, though, is part of the game to realize the goal of insuring a joyful Christmas for kids and families who need a little help during the coming holiday season. PBU has put together one of the most generous biker run holiday charity programs for the past 30 years—this year will make 31 years. The toy bowl is part of that effort.

This is more than just a toy drive. This particular event supports the entire community.
Pueblo Bikers United puts together all the gifts and other donations they collect throughout the year, including at other PBU events like the annual toy bowl football game, combines them with the proceeds of their annual December Toy Run, and distributes them to at least 19 different agencies which in turn distribute gifts to kids across the city.

See, it really is all about the kids. And football.

For more information, contact PBU at 719-543-1360 or visit www.pueblobikersunited.org.