About $1M worth of all sorts of sharp, shiny motorbikes were on show at Lake Munmorah recently when Bikers for Kids were in town to promote their annual Christmas Toy Run.
Dozens of classics filled the car park to the brim at Bikers Attic (formerly CC Leather Riders) at the Ampol service station on the Pacific Hwy where hundreds of spectators turned up for the Show & Shine Day on Sunday, April 7.
Apart from the competition for the finest bikes on the day, it was a chance for the motorcycle community to raise money for their particular charities.
Groups attending also included Sons of ANZACs Central Coast, BACCA (Bikers Against Child Abuse) Newcastle, and BOMAS SMC, which is a social motorcycle club supporting Brisbane Water Legacy.
For the past 47 years Bikers for Kids has been running the Newcastle Toy Run which has grown from about 50 riders in the first year to last year setting a record of 14,000 participating bike riders.
Last year the group raised about $65,000 plus about $150,000 worth of toys, which were distributed through The Salvation Army to disadvantaged families at Christmas.
“It all started with a bunch of guys in a pub saying that we should do something for kids,” Bikers for Kids treasurer Stephen Meek said.
“We do a short ride about 25km on the first Sunday of December every year when riders and their bikes get dressed up in all sorts of superhero costumes, Santa and all sorts of Christmas gear, just for the kids, and load up our bikes with toys and go to our final destination where there’s a family fun day with music, kids rides, and food trucks.
“Organisation starts in about February and the event at Lake Munmorah is just one of our events throughout the year to promote the toy run and other fundraising events.
“If we can put a smile on a kid’s face at Christmas then we’ve done what we’ve set out to do.”
The next event Bikers for Kids will attend is the Lake Macquarie Autumn Fair on May 4 and other forthcoming events are listed on the group’s Facebook page, including how to purchase a ticket to win a Triumph Scrambler 400 X provided by sponsor Brisan Motorcycles.