Not many sounds compare to the rumble made by a cavalcade of 10,500 motorbikes on the way to donate Christmas gifts to children in need.
“When they come over the Stockton Bridge that sound still brings a tear to my eye, even after 39 years,” Bikes for Kids founder Big John said.
“The Newcastle Toy Run is drawing close to it’s 40th Anniversary and just like when we started, it has one purpose and that’s to provide struggling parents with Christmas gifts to put under the tree. A child’s smile can light up the world and every child deserves to find something under the tree on Christmas morning.”
[x_pullquote cite=”BIG JOHN” type=”left”]“We’re from Newcastle, we’ve been steel workers, miners, we’re salt of the earth and we know what it means to struggle sometimes. I think that’s why we get the biggest turn out. We know how to support each other when times get tough.”[/x_pullquote]This year the Newcastle Toy will kick off from Ballast Park Stockton at precisely 10 am and travel, cavalcade-style, into Newcastle, concluding at the Frog Pond, Foreshore Park.
“Last year we had 10,500 bikes participate and were able to donate $95,000 in toys and cash to the Salvation Army for local families,” Big John said.
“The most important thing about the Newcastle Toy Run is that all the toys go to a Salvation Army warehouse where parents can go to choose a toy for their kids.
“They can then go home and wrap that toy up for Christmas morning. We don’t give toys to the kids ourselves, the whole point is to support that love within the family.”
The Newcastle Toy Run has certainly grown from its humble beginnings in 1979 when 25 bikes carried the first toys from Gateshead into Newcastle.
“The toy run has seen a few ups and downs and changes over the years, but I have always been determined to keep it going,” Big John said.
“We’re proud to have more than 10,000 bikes participating these days, but there’s 30,000 bikes in Newcastle and one day I want to see all of them delivering toys to our local kids.
“There are other toy runs in places like Melbourne and Sydney and they get about 5,000 bikes and every run is good, but I like to think that here in Newcastle we are the biggest and the oldest for a reason.
“We’re from Newcastle, we’ve been steel workers, miners, we’re salt of the earth and we know what it means to struggle sometimes. I think that’s why we get the biggest turn out. We know how to support each other when times get tough.”
To ride in the 2016 Newcastle Toy Run simply grab your toys and your bike and rock up to Ballast Park Stockton ready for a 10 am departure. You can also donate toys at the Foreshore from 10.30 am to 2pm.
The day will include live music, market stalls and food & drink vendors.
The event will be held on 4 December. For more information go to the Bikers for Kids page on Facebook.
