Santa to Get Police Escort to Support The Children’s Inn at NIH
BETHESDA, MD (Dec. 7, 2018) — On Dec. 12, Montgomery County drivers may be asked to yield for the motorcade of a very important visitor: a Harley-Davidson-riding Santa Claus escorted by about 30 Montgomery County Police elves on motorbikes. The Santa Ride, which has been held annually for more than 10 years, supports The Children’s Inn at NIH in Bethesda.
Santa’s motorcade will make 10 stops in Montgomery County between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to bring joy to children in Montgomery County and collect donations for The Children’s Inn at NIH, a nonprofit that provides free lodging and a wide range of supportive services to families of children with rare or serious illnesses whose best hope is a clinical trial at NIH.
The procession will start at the 5th District police station in Gaithersburg and conclude at The Children’s Inn. Children and families are invited to meet Santa and support The Inn at nine community stops outlined below. The final stop at The Children’s Inn is a private visit for Santa and his elves to spend time with the children residing at The Inn.
There are several ways to support children and families served by The Inn: Text the word INN to 501501 to donate $10, take an on-site donation to Santa or donate online at childrensinn.org/santaride. Join the conversation about Santa Ride at #MCPSantaRide.
About The Children’s Inn at NIH
Located on the NIH campus, The Children’s Inn is a nonprofit hospitality house that provides free lodging and supportive services to families of children with rare and serious illnesses whose best hope is a clinical trial at the NIH. Every year, The Children’s Inn houses more than 1,700 children and their families from across the United States and the world to help reduce the burden of illness on families, make childhood possible despite illness and advance medical breakthroughs at the NIH that benefit children today and generations to come. For more information about The Children’s Inn, visit childrensinn.org or follow us on social media at:
Facebook: @TheChildrensInn;
Twitter: @TheChildrensInn;
Instagram: @thechildrensinn
Please see the full Santa Ride schedule below:
| Starting Location | ||
| 5th District (Germantown) Station | 20000 Aircraft Drive, Germantown | 10:00 a.m. |
| Upcounty Regional Services Center | 12900 Middlebrook Road, Germantown | 10:05 a.m. |
| Public Safety Headquarters | 100 Edison Park Drive, Gaithersburg | 10:45 a.m. |
| RIO Washingtonian Center (Target) | 25 Grand Corner Avenue, Gaithersburg | 11:15 a.m. |
| (Lunch) | ||
| Fair Hill Plaza – Olney Town Center (near fountain) | 18169 Town Center Drive, Olney | 2:30 p.m. |
| Ellsworth Drive near Starbucks | 915 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring | 3:15 p.m. |
| Pike & Rose shopping center | 11580 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda | 4:00 p.m. |
| The Children’s Inn at NIH | Private event – Patients only | 4:45 p.m. |
*Santa will do his very best to stay on schedule but please note that all times are approximate. Please follow the Department on Twitter @mcpnews during the Santa Ride and use the hashtag #MCPSantaRide for the most up-to-the-minute information.
In the past, residents have inquired why the Santa Ride cannot begin at night so that school children may have a better opportunity to see Santa. Please know that the ultimate goal of this ride is meet with the families of NIH, so we need to make sure that we arrive at the Inn at a reasonable hour and that Santa has time to talk with all of the children. We appreciate your understanding.
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Media Contacts
Sonja Luecke
The Children’s Inn at NIH
901-340-1975
[email protected]
Mysba Regis
The Children’s Inn at NIH
240-274-2101
[email protected]