Annual Knit N’ Run Tradition still going strong
TAMMY COAKLEY/THE EXPRESS Shown are Prayer Shawl Ministry needleworkers and members of the Susquehanna Valley Big Twins Motorcycle Club in the sanctuary of the Bald Eagle United Presbyterian Church on Saturday.
TAMMY COAKLEY/THE EXPRESS George Hill, whose biker name is “Curious,” brought his daughter, Dakota, to the 2026 Annual Knit N’Run.
TAMMY COAKLEY/THE EXPRESS Haven Place in Lock Haven was one of the first stops on the SVBTMC’s schedule for the Knit N’ Run on Oct. 3 for the bikers to deliver lap robes, prayer shawls and handwarmers to patients living there.
TAMMY COAKLEY/THE EXPRESS Comfort dolls and small animals are crocheted or knitted by Prayer Shawl Ministry that are then given to children at local emergency rooms.
TAMMY COAKLEY/THE EXPRESS Colorful afghans and prayer shawls adorn the pews for the Knit N’ Run. The items were crocheted, knitted or sewn by Prayer Shawl Ministry needleworkers that the bikers would deliver to local nursing and personal care homes on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.
TAMMY COAKLEY/THE EXPRESS Several bikers (and their passengers) from Susquehanna Valley Big Twins Motorcycle Club in Woolrich arrive at the Bald Eagle United Presbyterian Church in Mill Hall on Saturday, Oct. 3, for brunch and the annual Knit N’ Run event. Pastor Susan Champion greets the bikers curbside.
TAMMY COAKLEY/THE EXPRESS Tables of food are shown for bikers and needleworkers to eat at the brunch held before the Knit N’Run.
TAMMY COAKLEY/THE EXPRESS Shown are Prayer Shawl Ministry needleworkers and members of the Susquehanna Valley Big Twins Motorcycle Club in the sanctuary of the Bald Eagle United Presbyterian Church on Saturday.
TAMMY COAKLEY/THE EXPRESS George Hill, whose biker name is “Curious,” brought his daughter, Dakota, to the 2026 Annual Knit N’Run.
TAMMY COAKLEY/THE EXPRESS Haven Place in Lock Haven was one of the first stops on the SVBTMC’s schedule for the Knit N’ Run on Oct. 3 for the bikers to deliver lap robes, prayer shawls and handwarmers to patients living there.
TAMMY COAKLEY/THE EXPRESS Comfort dolls and small animals are crocheted or knitted by Prayer Shawl Ministry that are then given to children at local emergency rooms.
TAMMY COAKLEY/THE EXPRESS Colorful afghans and prayer shawls adorn the pews for the Knit N’ Run. The items were crocheted, knitted or sewn by Prayer Shawl Ministry needleworkers that the bikers would deliver to local nursing and personal care homes on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.
TAMMY COAKLEY/THE EXPRESS Several bikers (and their passengers) from Susquehanna Valley Big Twins Motorcycle Club in Woolrich arrive at the Bald Eagle United Presbyterian Church in Mill Hall on Saturday, Oct. 3, for brunch and the annual Knit N’ Run event. Pastor Susan Champion greets the bikers curbside.
TAMMY COAKLEY/THE EXPRESS Tables of food are shown for bikers and needleworkers to eat at the brunch held before the Knit N’Run.
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MILL HALL -- The pews of the Mill Hall United Presbyterian Church were adorned with colorful items the Prayer Shawl Ministry needleworkers had made over the past year in anticipation of the Annual Knit N' Run that is held the first Saturday in October. And right on time, the bikers revved their engines coming up Main Street, before parking at the curb in front of the church at 10 a.m. where they were greeted by Pastor Susan Champion.
The needleworkers and bikers from the Susquehanna Valley Big Twins Cycle Club met in the church fellowship room for a morning brunch and to enjoy fellowship together before the two groups bagged up the items to be distributed in the SVBTMC's annual Knit N' Run.
After everyone had eaten their fill, several bikers astride their two wheeled rides and others following in vehicles carrying a large bounty of lap robes, lap afghans, prayer shawls, handwarmers and comfort dolls headed out to local emergency rooms, nursing homes and personal care homes in the region to drop off the many colorful creations that the needleworkers had made. It's an annual tradition for both the Prayer Shawl Ministry and the SVBT Motorcycle Club. The day was sunny and warm for the cyclist to complete their mission of making all their deliveries.
The Susquehanna Valley Big Twins Motorcycle Club's Knit N' Run is just one of the many organizations that the Prayer Shawl Ministry supports each year with creative items made from yarn or material. Many nursing homes and personal care homes in the region also are provided with items for the residents living there.
The needleworkers also make handmade comfort dolls and small animals that are provided to local hospital emergency rooms to help ease the trauma of children having to visit the ER.
"Our Prayer Shawl Ministry needleworkers work all year long at crocheting, knitting or sewing the colorful items that are then given away, free of charge, to more than 25 different organizations in our area," said Pastor Susan Champion, who started the Prayer Shawl Ministry at the Mill Hall church more than 20 years ago.
Pastor Susan was thrilled with the turnout on Saturday, of both needleworkers, bikers and others who came to the church for the brunch.
"There is a real need for the items that we make and we are happy to be able to provide them. Our needleworkers are dedicated and passionate about using their talents to make the items to fulfill our Prayer Shawl Ministry's mission of bringing comfort and warmth to individuals, and just to let them know that they are loved and cared about," Champion said of the ministry.
"Having the bikers come for brunch is just a nice way of renewing both old friendships and making new friendships between our two organizations. I'm so glad that our ministry has continued for close to 20 years and that our biker friends are just as passionate about helping others in our community as we are," Champion said.
Pastor Susan invites other "needleworkers," those who crochet or knit, to become a part of the Prayer Shawl Ministry that meets monthly at the church in Mill Hall. The next meeting is set for Wednesday, Oct. 7, at noon, in the church fellowship hall. For more information about the Prayer Shawl Ministry call the church office at 570-726-4112.
For more information about the SVBT Motorcycle Club call Club President Brad Darby at 570-295-6577 or visit the club's website or Facebook page.