Bikers Toy Run is all about the kids

Cape Town – The Toy Run has always been a small, local charity event - although the definitions of ‘small’ and ‘local’ have changed somewhat over the years.

Unlike the annual Harley-Davidson rally at Sturgis in the black Hills of South Dakota and the Tourist Trophy races on the Isle of Man, which are as much about the pilgrimage to their iconic settings as the events themselves, the Toy Run, at least in South Africa, is about bringing Christmas to children living in less-than-ideal circumstances in your area.

Which is why there will be at least 19 Toy Runs all around South Africa in this, its 32nd year, nearly all on the traditional last Sunday in November or within a week of it, with riders on every type of two and three-wheeler you can imagine and a good few you won’t, coming together to reach out to society’s most vulnerable minority – those too young to speak for themselves.

It’s about children who live in places you have ridden past - or may even have grown up in - who wouldn’t know anything about the outpouring of love that informs most of our lives at the close of the year unless we bring it to them, simply because the people responsible for their care are to busy putting food on the table – or indeed, a roof over that table – to worry about niceties such as Barbie dolls, cricket bats and teddy bears.

Certainly, the mass ride and the biker party that celebrate the camaraderie of motorcycling and the pleasure of being VIPs for one day of the year, for the very best of reasons, are important - but they’re a movable feast, they can happen anywhere where there are children in need and, sadly, that’s everywhere.

And when all those local bikers at their local Toy Runs stand up to be counted, the numbers are simply staggering. More than 100 000 bikers and their families will ride at the end of November, bringing gifts for children in need all over South Africa and Namibia in Southern Africa’s largest biker-driven charity event.

GAUTENG

The Gauteng Toy Run will start from four different locations at 9am on Sunday 30 November:

Blockhouse Engen 1 Stop: On the R59 between Randvaal Road & Heidelberg Road – Northbound - 64 kilometres.

Irene Village Mall: On the R21 - 40 kilometres.

Meadowdale Mall: Edenvale Road between the R24 and the N12 - 24 kilometres.

SilverStar Casino: On R28 Paardekraal Road, near Pinehaven intersection - 96 kilometres.

The mass rides will be escorted by metro police and intersection controlled at 80km/h to converge on the Benoni Northerns Sport Grounds (John Barable Hall) on the corner of O’Reily Merry and Brodigan Streets in Benoni.

Any licensed rider on a street-legal motorcycle capable of completing the distance is welcome - note that the SilverStar route is 96km and will involve well over an hour of riding. There will also be an off-road Toy Run route for enduro and quad riders at Dirt Bronco Raceway in Krugersdorp.

Already confirmed for the main venue are three bands, more than 80 stalls and food vendors and other entertainment for young and old. Although this day is focused on the motorcycling community the public is encouraged to attend and bring their families; secure parking for cars has been arranged in the grounds of Benoni High School.

The entrance fee – for bikers and public alike - is one or more toys; stalls at the entrances will be selling Toy Run Recommended gifts should you forget your gift donation. The toys are re-distributed to the needy by recognised service clubs such as Round Table, Rotary and Lions International.

In recent years the focus has been to request educational gifts or packs for the children. These, along with ball games, are the most popular items to be received by the children when handing out toys.

CAPE TOWN

The Cape Town Toy Run will start from only one venue in 2014 – the Grand West Casino in Goodwood – at about 10.30am on Sunday 30 November (but please allow 15 minutes either way) and will end at the William Herbert Sports Ground, in Rosmead Avenue, Wynberg.

All normal road rules apply and all licensed riders on roadworthy motorcycles are welcome. The public are also welcome to donate toys at the end venue from noon to 4pm on the day, Sunday 30 November and join in the festivities at the end venue.

The entrance fee - for bikers and public alike - is one or more toys; should you not bring a toy, you will be asked to donate R20 towards the cost of staging the Toy Run, which are now well into six figures each year.

There will be a beer garden, food stalls, motorcycle displays, Toy Run memorabilia, bike-related jewellery, clothing and accessories on sale, with three live bands and entertainers headlined by Kurt Schoonraad on the main stage, as well as spot prizes in various categories.

The popular Concours d’Elegance has been revived this year, so shine up your ride and brag a bit - you could walk away with a prize.

Because the teddy bear logo has become so closely associated with the Toy Run, each year the organisers receive a vast majority of soft toys suitable for very young children but there is a desperate need for gifts for older children (teenage boys and girls) such as sports equipment – cricket sets, basketball hoops, balls of any type, costume jewellery and craft kits, puzzles and board games, toiletries and make-up for older girls, fun stationery, drawing and art equipment (please, no toy guns of any kind; these will not be distributed).

NATIONAL TOY RUN CONTACT LIST

Bela Bela (Warmbaths): Chris Briel 084 919 5990

Bethlehem: Trudie Esterhuizen 082 550 0469 / Hein Brandt 082 873 7048

Bloemfontein: Charmain Loubser 084 522 6066 / Wanda Pretorius 082 556 5932

Cape Town: Rodney Ford 021 703 8121 / Glynis Coetzee 083 452 2916

De Wildt: Dirk du Plooy 011 839 1660

Durban: Les Boes 083 487 6846 / Jo Boes 072 648 5572

East London: Louise Myburgh 082 660 6260 / Faith Smit 083 281 2212

George: Eddie Creed 082 895 9796

Heidelberg: Blackie and Sandra Swart 073 252 5007

Kimberley: Flip Kuhn 082 565 9795 / Andre 082 442 5097

Klerksdorp: Spikes Lawrence 082 461 2507