User:Gmc777/Toy Run

OVERVIEW
Launched in 1982 simultaneously in Cape Town and Johannesburg by the Italian Motorcycle Owners Club (IMOC), the Toy Run™ is now the largest motorcycling-related charity event in Southern Africa and arguably the world. A Toy Run™ is held in over nineteen centres in the Southern African region, hosted by local motorcycle clubs and other organisations, with the assistance and sponsorship of the commercial sector.

This goodwill “ride” has grown into an motorcycling phenomenon. The event has become known, far beyond the motorcycling world, as one of Southern Africa's most significant charity initiatives. More than an estimated 65,000 motorcyclists turned out across the region with toys of all descriptions adorning their bikes, intended for disadvantaged children of all races in orphanages, shelters, homes and hospitals throughout the country’s communities.

The aims of the Toy Run are to improve and enhance the image of motorcyclists in their communities; and to collect and distribute toys and gifts to less privileged children up to 18 years.

TOYS
As the teddy bear insignia is so closely identified with the Toy Run®, every year the organisers receive a vast majority of soft toys suitable for very young children, but there is a need for items for older children (teenage girls and boys) toys. Suggestions for appropriate items include:

• Any sports equipment ~ cricket sets, basketball hoops, balls of any type ~ soccer, tennis, rugby etc

• Costume jewellery & craft kits, toiletries & make-up for older girls

• Puzzles & board games

• Fun stationery, drawing & art equipment

Toys, games and items that allow for group and team activities are sought, as it means that a number of young people can be kept occupied at a time.

CAPE TOWN EVENT
The organisation of the IMOC Cape Town Charity Toy Run Trust event is spearheaded by a group of eight Trustees, led by ex-traffic officer Rodney Ford, whose name has become synonymous, over his 17 years of chairmanship, with both the Cape Town Toy Run, and now the Toy Run National Forum. The annual Toy Run National Forum, which was held in 2009 in Cape Town in March, is an informal group of the Toy Run organisers nationwide (and Namibia), who have collectively agreed to follow the Code of Ethics established by the Toy Run trademark holders in collaboration with the Toy Run Company based in Gauteng and a number of the other Toy Run organisers, to prevent any unscrupulous use of this charity event and to be able to encourage countrywide corporate sponsorship. The eight Trustees of the Cape Town event, along with a further group of more than 150 volunteers, ensure that this event, which takes place over a 6-hour period on the last Sunday in November, runs smoothly. These volunteers ensure that the 20 000-plus visitors, motorcyclists and public alike, that move through the end venue during the course of the day, are kept fed, ‘watered’ and entertained, as thanks and in return for their contribution of the toys. Volunteer and participatory groups include Think Bike (Think Bike), Volunteer Wildfire Services, Disaster Management and others. The Toy Run™ Cape Town is open to any licensed motorcyclist on any roadworthy, licensed motorcycle providing that he or she donates at least ONE TOY each, collected at the Maynardville site at the conclusion of the ride. Access will not be granted to Maynardville without a toy.

• No toys are RESOLD by the Toy Run Cape Town – these are all GIVEN away.

• All toys are distributed in the year that they are collected (ie none are stored).

• None of the organisers, nor any of the volunteers are paid for their individual efforts.