It’s one of the largest motorcycle charity events in the world, bringing together more than 100 000 bikers and their families in almost two dozen venues around Southern Africa on the last Sunday in November each year.
The annual charity Toy Run - to be held this year on 24 November - is also the biggest biker party of the year, transcending cultural and language barriers because it’s all about the children – young South Africans for whom Christmas is just another skirmish in the battle to survive.
Now in its 31st year, the Toy Run is based on a very simple premise: it doesn’t collect toys, it collects people - on bikes, on foot, on skateboards, and even on four wheels - who bring toys to a central venue where they donate the toys to be distributed to children in homes and unfunded grass-roots care centres who wouldn’t know about Christmas if it weren’t for the bikers.
There are children in this country who don’t believe in red suits and reindeer. They will tell you the real Santa Claus wears black leather and rides a motorcycle - and they know ‘cause they’ve seen him.
GAUTENG
The 2013 Gauteng Toy Run will start simultaneously at 9.am on Sunday 24 November from five venues:
Blockhouse 1-Stop, Vereeniging.
Irene Village Mall, Irene.
Meadowdale Mall, Edenvale.
SilverStar Casino, Pinehaven.
They will all converge on the Benoni Northerns Sports Grounds in Benoni.
An additional off-road Toy Run for bikes and quads will start from Dirt Broncos.
Contact: Graeme Cartwright – 083-463-2761.
CAPE TOWN
The Cape Town Toy Run will start simultaneously from Grand West Casino and Makro Ottery at 10.30am on Sunday 24 November; any licensed rider on any street-legal motorcycle is welcome.
The two processions will merge on Settler’s Way to form a parade of more than 7000 motorcycles that will proceed along Union Avenue and Tennant Road to Maynardville in Wynberg.
At Maynardville there will be refreshments and memorabilia on sale, new bikes and rider gear on the dealers’ stands, live rock music and side-splitting comedy from Kurt Schoonraad. Anybody is welcome - just bring toys.
Contact: Rodney Ford – 021-703-8121.
DURBAN
The Durban Toy Run will start from The Pavilion, Westville at 9.30am, and end at the Lords and Legends sport grounds in Amanzimtoti, where they will be entertained by a live band, the Jonathan Djinga Drummers, DJ Edman, the Mr T fire dancers and Sons of Us.
Contact: Les Boes – 083-487-6846 or Jo Boes – 072-648-5572.
BLOEMFONTEIN
The Bloemfontein Toy Run will start from Makro Bloemfontein in Kwaggafontein at 10am, and end at the Cheetah Pub and Grill, &b Denne Avenue, in Bainsvlei, where there will be trophies to be won, stalls, refreshments on sale, entertainment for children and an indoor swimming pool.
Contact: Wanda Pretorius – 082-556-5932.
PORT ELIZABETH
The Port Elizabeth Toy Run will start from the Pick ‘n Pay Hypermarket 10am, and end at the NMB stadium. Four main prizes valued at R40 000 are up for grabs in the raffle, starting with a 125cc Honda E-Storm.
Contact: Tony Halket – 082-568-0682.
LOWVELD
The Lowveld Toy Run will start from Crossing Centre, Nelspruit at 9am, and end at the Oewersig Hall, where there will be live music, refreshments on sale, food stalls, and entertainment for children.
Contact: Bernie Woodford – 082-308-2624.
BE THERE – AND BRING TOYS!
E-mail Dave Abrahams to add the details of your Toy Run to this listing.