Children at Shriners Hospital get a Christmas in July

NORTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Christmas came a little early on Sunday, as hundreds of toys were delivered by Santa Claus and a few hundred helpers to Shriners Hospital for Children.

Two-year-old Wyatt Banks was there for the event.

"He was one year old last year and he remembers the motorcycles from last year, and he's been screaming asking where the motorcycles are this morning! So yeah, he loves it," said Jason Banks.

Wyatt has a rare autoimmune disease that affects his spinal cord. He's paralyzed from the chest down, and travels to Shriners Hospital from South Carolina several times a year.

"We saw progress last year and we're excited that we were able to get back in again this year," said Jason Banks.

Santa's helpers are from the Centurion Motorcycle Club of Philadelphia. For 19 years, they've organized the Christmas in July toy run, collecting thousands of toys and more than $221,000 for the hospital which is dedicated to kids with orthopedic conditions and spinal cord injuries.

"These toys are used to replenish our toys rooms. They're used a prizes and gifts - maybe after you just had a really hard test or a blood test taken or a procedure," said Stephanie Byrwa of Shriners Hospital.

After the kids visited with Santa, they got to pick out a toy from the pile. Parents say kids look forward to this event all year long.

Five-year-old Alyssa Leszczynski, who suffers from scoliosis, got a tee set and Play-Doh.

"She actually asks for Shriners. She's been asking all week to come and this is her hospital, she calls it," said Christina Leszczynski.

The bikers who make it all happen say, for them, it's kind of like Christmas for them too.

"You pull up and they've gotten to know us and they're cheering and they see Santa coming in,' said Joseph Mason. "It's a great day.