By Corey Everitt
Approximately 400 colourfully adorned bikes roared across Bass Highway on Sunday 8 December in the Annual Phillip Island Toy Run with riders providing much-needed assistance for local families this Christmas season.
Starting at Caldermeade Farm and Cafe for a bit of morning tea before setting off, the many riders who participated made their trip down to Cowes where they distributed the many donated toys from far and wide in the community.
The toy run was initiated three years ago by Samantha and Jason Hampstead from Cowes tattoo shop Dead4Eva and has firmly established itself as a hallmark of community spirit during the Christmas season.
The first year saw 84 bikes, second saw 221 and this year saw about 400 bike riders join the run.
The donation also has expanded significantly with approximately $4000 in vouchers and over $10,000 estimated in toys donated from the community.
Many toys and helpful vouchers for parents went out to those in need starting during the local market on the Esplanade in Cowes.
The distribution continued into Monday with about 50 families receiving 390 vouchers by 11am. Every child received a show bag and two toys each.
All leftover toys will be distributed by local Rotary Clubs.
“We’ve had families in tears with us, I had one mother who just wouldn’t let go of us, this allowed her to afford groceries,“ Samantha said on Monday.
After the run on Sunday, prizes from Bikers Gear Australia in Dandenong were handed out for the best bike decorations.
The toy run is so successful that Samantha and Jason have begun a second annual event, the Phillip Island Community GP Run that was held for the first time during the MotoGP weekend this October.
The Phillip Island Toy Run is held on the second Sunday in December each year.
