Toy Run bikers party all the way

Published Nov 28, 2011

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It was the biker party of the year, the biggest motorcycle charity event in South Africa - and arguably the world - as more than 50 000 riders came together on the last Sunday in November, in 19 locations all around the country, for the 29th annual Toy Run, all bringing toys to make Christmas come to life for the most vulnerable members of their communities.

 For there is no National Toy Run: the founders of the event in Johannesburg and Cape Town have always encouraged the riders of each big city and every small town to make the Toy Run a grass-roots event, to bring a little bit of magic to children right there in their own communities who would not otherwise have any kind of Christmas at all.

 JOHANNESBURG

 The Johannesburg Toy Run was again the biggest in the country, with an estimated 18 000-20 000 motorcycles converging on the new end venue, Benoni Northern Sports Club.

 Although the numbers were significantly down on last year the event was still a huge success, and the 16 000 toys gathered will brighten the lives of thousands of disadvantaged children this Christmas.

 Due to logistical challenges the format was changed for 2011 and, instead of the multiple mass rides of previous years, bikers were asked to make their way to the end venue in their own time.

 However several thousand bikers took part in the two optional mass rides that did take place - one from Meadowdale Mall in Edenvale and a smaller one from the CMA Bikers Church in Midrand.

 The run from Meadowdale was an impressive-looking motorcycle cavalcade stretching for several kilometres, and went off smoothly with the help of the Ekurhuleni Metro Police which manned the intersections to ensure the Toy Runners' smooth passage.

 At Benoni Northerns Sports Club the bikers handed in their donations and created a mountain of toys before chilling out to some good 'ol biker entertainment in convivially sunny weather.

 The afternoon was spent enjoying beverages and burgers and talking bikes, with live rockers Tryst and Backbone providing the appropriate musical backdrop.

 CAPE TOWN

 Not even a last-minute change of venue could put a damper on the Toy Run, as more than 6000 riders turned out on for the Cape's biggest biker party yet.

 The substitute northern suburbs start point, Cape Town Market in Epping Industria, must have raised a few eyebrows when it was first suggested, but it turned out to be very suitable - easy to control and marshal, spacious and with plenty of shade.

 Nearly 2500 riders started from Epping, as well as more than 3500 from the traditional southern suburbs start venue in Ottery, led by the mayor of Cape Town, Patricia de Lille, on the pillion of Toy Run convenor Rodney Ford's ex-traffic department Harley-Davidson.

 In her keynote address De Lille thanked the hundreds of city workers who gave up their Sunday to make the Toy Run possible, as well as the riders - and members of the public who attended at Maynardville - who opened their hearts to create a Christmas miracle for the most vulnerable members of their community.

 The Toy Run, she said, was no longer just a motorcycling event, but a part of the cultural fabric of the city.

 A new feature of the run this year was the large number of riders who stopped along the route (possibly due to the 30-degree heat) to take a break, get a few pictures of the run on their cellphones, socialise with riding buddies and the thousands of spectators lining the route, and then rejoin the run.

 The effect was to turn the entire route into a party zone, a place to cool off, wave to friends as they rode by and interact with the public, who have taken this spectacular annual parade so much to heart.

 Once at Maynardville, however, the party got into top gear, with rock music from three live bands, and comedy and magic headlined by “Skeem” star Kurt Schoonraad.

 There were displays of bikes, accessories and gear in the paddock, a dozen different takeaways on offer at the food court and hundreds of visitors mingling with the riders - entry to Maynardville was free as long as you brought a toy.

 But as always, the venue was (literally) overshadowed by two enormous trucks, which were full to the brim by noon, with a sizeable pile of toys overflowing on to the grass between them.

 PRETORIA/BELA BELA

 An estimated 7500 motorcyclists from Pretoria and Limpopo converged on the Carousel Casino, almost doubling last year's number. The run, with departure points in Pretoria and Bela-Bela, went off without any serious incidents, with Tshwane Metro Police officers and Think Bike marshals from Gauteng and Limpopo in attendance to control traffic and keep the riders safe.

 The Pretoria departure point was at Kolonnade Retail Park in Zambezi Drive and, despite there being more bikes than expected, the entire procession took only about 35 minutes to clear Zambezi Drive. According to the organisers, most of the motorists who were stopped at intersections were extremely patient, electing to stay and enjoy the spectacle rather than taking the suggested alternative routes.

 The more than 12 000 toys collected will be donated to various charities for distribution among disadvantaged children.

DURBAN

 Attendance at the Durban Toy Run was substantially down on that of 2010, with about 5500 riders turning out under threatening skies (the rain held off all day but soon after the end venue closes it poured!).

 The ride however, was the smoothest and most trouble-free yet, with magnificent co-operation between the road captains of the various motorcycle clubs involved and the traffic department.

 The public of Durban, however, made up for the reduced biker turnout, packing the end venue to the point where some of the riders struggled to find parking!

 PORT ELIZABETH

 Despite heavy rain, Port Elizabeth's bikers pulled out all the stops for that city's 20th Toy Run; some 2500 of them braved the weather to ride in procession from Pick 'n Pay in William Moffet to the Nelson Mandela Bay soccer stadium, where they collected more than 3000 toys, threw a party for 300 disadvantaged children (sponsored to the tune of R55 000 by riders and members of the public) and raised no less than R119 000 simply by raffling tickets at R5 each for a lucky draw.

 They'll also be throwing another party on Wednesday for 50 children, at the Aurora Home.

 BLOEMFONTEIN

 Some 1850 motorcycles rode in procession from Northmead Mall to the Ramblers sports club in beautiful weather, bringing with them a small mountain of toys and a large thirst for beer.

 Send all the details and a few pictures of your local Toy Run to Dave Abrahams ([email protected]) and we'll keep updating the story and gallery as they come in!

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