News
Hundreds of motorcyclists are expected to ride through the Lehigh Valley on Saturday, November 3, to honor the memory of their beloved friend by donating toys to the pediatric patients of St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN).
Riders taking part in the 8th annual Tucker’s Toy Run will leave the Tri-Boro Sportsmen Club in Northampton at noon with a police escort and arrive in the main parking lot of St. Luke’s University Hospital in Bethlehem at approximately 12:30 p.m.
When they arrive, the riders will fill cribs and bins with the toys they collected for patients of all ages. Children who are well enough to leave the pediatric unit with a family member will greet the riders and take part in the festivities. The toys will be distributed to pediatric patients throughout the network.
Each year, friends and fellow riding enthusiasts of the late Tucker Stuart celebrate his life and honor his memory by organizing Tucker’s Toy Run. Stuart, an avid motorcyclist, died in a motorcycle accident in 2011. Tucker’s Toy Run is organized by Rick Nauman.
“Our blessings continue as this wonderful group of men, women and children continue to honor the memory of their friend Tucker by donating to our pediatric patients throughout the network,” says Patricia Gubich, RN, CPN, SLUHN’s Patient Care Manager Pediatrics. “The patients and their families are so thankful and appreciative when they receive a gift. It truly brightens their day and helps ease the difficulty of being in the hospital, especially this time of year.”
“Tucker’s family joins us from New England to honor the memory of their brother, Tucker, and to be a part of this wonderful event,” Gubich says. “It truly is overwhelming to see the array of motorcyclists who come out and donate in honor of their friend,” she adds. “We are so blessed to have this amazing group give so much to our pediatric patients. It truly is an outstanding way to honor Tucker. Because of their generosity, they touch many pediatric patients throughout the entire year.”
Lunch buffet specials will be available for purchase after the ride from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tri-Boro Sportsmen Club. Refreshments will be available until 8 p.m. All riders are welcome. Riders should arrive by 11 a.m. at Tri-Boro Sportsmen Club in Northampton.
About St. Luke’s
Founded in 1872, St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) is a fully integrated, regional, non-profit network of more than 14,000 employees providing services at 10 hospitals and more than 300 outpatient sites. With annual net revenue greater than $2 billion, the Network’s service area includes 10 counties: Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Montgomery, Monroe and Schuylkill counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. Dedicated to advancing medical education, St. Luke’s is the preeminent teaching hospital in central-eastern Pennsylvania. In partnership with Temple University, St. Luke’s created the region’s first and only regional medical school campus. It also operates the nation’s longest continuously operating School of Nursing, established in 1884, and 28 fully accredited graduate medical educational programs with 226 residents and fellows. St. Luke’s is the only health care system in central-eastern Pennsylvania to earn Medicare’s five-star rating (the highest) for quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction. St. Luke’s has earned the 100 Top Major Teaching Hospital designation from IBM Watson Health (formerly Truven Health Analytics) repeatedly – six times total and four years in a row including 2018. It has also been cited by IBM Watson Health as a 50 Top Cardiovascular Program. Utilizing the EPIC electronic medical record (EMR) system for both inpatient and outpatient services, the Network is a multi-year recipient of the Most Wired award recognizing the breadth of the SLUHN’s information technology applications such as telehealth, online scheduling and online pricing information. St. Luke’s is also recognized as one of the state’s lowest cost providers.
