South Africa - 20 PLACES, THOUSANDS OF BIKERS - EACH ONE A HERO
It was the mother and father of all Toy Runs – an estimated 38 000 people on more than 23 000 motorcycles converged on the Nasrec expo centre south of Johannesburg on the last Sunday in November, traditional date of Toy Runs nationwide. ~photo gallery~
And the scene was repeated on a larger or smaller scale at more than 20 Toy Runs all over South Africa – from the Cape Town Toy Run where more than 7000 riders rode to Maynardville from two start venues, and from Heidelberg in the southern Cape where 42 riders embarked on a 250km "hospital crawl" More than 20 000 riders converged on Nasrec from five start venues .
An estimated 50 000 riders took part in this the 26th Toy Run.
There were bikes of all shapes and sizes festooned with kids' stuff as Gauteng's bikers answered the call to bring Christmas to children in institutions, orphanages and hospices who would otherwise have had nothing to celebrate this holiday season.
They rode from Silverton Midas in Pretoria, Steeledale Hyper, a new start venue at Greenstone Mall in Edenvale, the Brightwater Commons and Westgate shopping centre.
The event suffered a little from growing pains in 2008, with a new end venue, five new routes and a new start venue. There was some confusion along the way – the run from Silverton in Pretoria got lost and the leaders actually turned back rather than go through the Johnnesburg CBD.
There were also last-minute changes to the route from Steeledale Hyper due to blasting for the Gautrain route – the Toy Run Committee was only told the day before! - but everybody eventually reached Nasrec, where they filled the car park, the outdoor exhibition areas and the access roads between the halls with bikes The Gauteng Toy Run suffered a little from growing pains in 2008 .
Few go to the Toy Run with just one toy: Gauteng Toy Run riders donated a record 54 500 toys of all types – and then enjoyed helicopter flips, dyno tuning, hundreds of trade stalls, food and beverage stalls and live music all day.
Surprisingly, given the size and complexity of the event, there were only three spills on the run, none serious, the worst being a rider who collided with a car and was knocked unconscious.
Happily, however, his injuries were limited to a broken finger and a dislocated pelvis and Toy Run convenor Pete Beart said he would probably be discharged from hospital on Monday.
AROUND THE COUNTRY
DURBAN'S Toy Run was nearly washed out before it started by a near-hurricane that swept through the night before and destroyed the stalls and facilities set up at the Lord and Legends cricket ground.
But convenor Joe Boes and his team were there at dawn on the day to rebuild and the Toy Run went off well with close to 6500 motorcycles taking part in overcast, miserable conditions.
Local band DV8 rocked up a storm and, thanks to the generosity of Durban's riders, all the requirements of the selected charities were met.
The PORT ELIZABETH Toy Run broke all records with a combined turnout (on and off-road) of nearly 4000 riders – compared to 2500 in 2007 - converging on the Rover motocross circuit in superb weather.
The previous day the clubs, public and corporate sponsors had treated 280 less-fortunate children at the Boardwalk centre to a party and a gift each - and another party for 54 children at the Aurora centre for disabled children was planned.
The 2008 Port Elizabeth Toy Run collected more than 5000 toys and about R110 000 in cash, of which the DJ on stage was responsible for about R38 000, partly by auctioning a R10 note for R700!
The clubs also presented a metre-square cake with the Toy Run logo iced on it to the Aurora Centre.
The EAST LONDON Toy Run was a little down on numbers from 2007 due to drizzle early in the morning but about 300 riders took part in a short ride from the War Memorial in Oxford Street to the Gonubie Farmers' Hall.
Convener Louis Myburgh was full of praise for the club marshals who saw the riders safely through each road junction – the East London Toy Run is one of the few that have no support from the local traffic authorities.
At the end venue the riders treated nearly 500 children from homes and hospices in and around East London to cold drinks and sweets and a toy each (sponsored by the riders) and a hot dog each courtesy of the Cambridge Lions.
The GEORGE Toy Run was "the best ever", said convenor Eddie Creed, attracting riders from Caledon, Beaufort West and even Cape Town. More than 600 bikes took part in the mass ride to the Mossel Bay Yacht and Boating Club – an ideal venue for skydivers (the day's star attraction) and for Father Christmas to make a grand entrance on an NSRI rescue boat.
160 children from homes and hospices in the area were treated to snacks, cold drinks, face-painting, puppet shows and a jumping castle.
The HEIDELBERG, CAPE Toy Run was not only the smallest but also the longest, with 42 riders completing a 250km route from Buffeljagsrivier on the N2 to the Swellendam hospital, on to Montagu Hospital and ending at Riversdale Hospital.
The riders distributed toys at every stop in children's wards, maternity wards and police trauma rooms. It was a long but very enjoyable day, said convenor Blackie Swart, and plans were already in hand to cover the same route in 2009 – in the opposite direction!
The only people who didn't complain about the heat at the NELSPRUIT Toy Run were the Round Table members who were manning the beer tent! About 180 riders turned out in temperatures close to 40 degrees to donate a small mountain of toys, about R17 000 in cash and a similar amount in pledges.
The BELA BELA Toy Run almost became a rally as about 80 riders from Pretoria arrived on Saturday and camped over. No problem for the legendary Limpopo hospitality, however; convenor Chris Briel rustled up a sheep on a spit and a pile of sausage rolls at no notice whatsoever and the evening turned into a memorable party.
The "official" Toy Run on Sunday – which was only the second to be held in Bela Bela - attracted more than 800 bikes from all over SA's northernmost province. Local residents said they'd never seen anything like it and a senior Pick 'n Pay executive who happened to be spending the weekend there was so impressed he pledged even more support for the 2009 Toy Run.
Thousands of toys were collected for distribution during the following week to children's homes and shelters in Limpopo province.
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