LAKE Wendouree’s North Gardens echoed on Saturday to the deep throb of V-twins and higher pitched whine of parallel twins and fours.
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Hundreds of leather-clad riders rumbled in ... teddy bears, plastic army men and other gifts strapped to guards and pillion seats.
The tradition that is the Central Highlands Toy Run rolled out of Buninyong in the morning, escorted by police and Country Fire Authority vehicles.
By the time the convoy had reached Wendouree Parade at about 11am, it had collected hundreds of toys and thousands of dollars from donations and the sale of collectable Toy Run badges.
About 235 were counted at North Gardens. With some riders not completing the full trip, the total amount may have been 250 or more.
“We’ve had a lot of bikes, a lot of club members and a lot of independent riders join us,” Toy Run organiser and Central Highlands Ulysses branch president Sharryn Nankervis said.
“We usually raise a couple of thousand in donations and that’s not including the toys.
“This year we sold out of badges, which we sell for $10.
“This has been officially going since 1994 and the Ulysses club has done it for a dozen or more years now.”
The Toy Run this year supported the Salvos, UnitingCare, Anglicare and St Vincent de Paul, in addition to the 3BA Appeal.
“This is one of our major fund raisers for the year,” 3BA Appeal director Peter Caligari said.
“There will be many Ballarat children receiving a toy on Christmas Day as a result of the Toy Ride and the people who have donated them.”
