Salvation Army toy run: Motorbike club calls for Mid West-Gascoyne riders to take part in Christmas event

The Salvation Army Christmas Charity toy run is just around the corner, with more than 40 motorcycles set to line up along the foreshore for the event. The community will see some of Geraldton’s flashest motorcycles on show on Saturday December 9, as a convoy of bikers ride from the Geraldton Regional Library to Nazareth House at about 10am, returning to the Dome Cafe for a bike display and sausage sizzle by 11am. A Salvos tent will be set up for anyone interested in donating to the Salvation Army Christmas appeal. Event organiser Terry Brennan, from the Ulysses Motorcycle Club, is calling for motorcyclists from across the district to join the charity run and help support families struggling to provide for their loved ones this Christmas. Mr Brennan said the toy run started out with motorbike riders trying to improve their image and show the community they were fathers, grandfathers and had families too, also noting that motorbikes made a lot of noise to attract people to the event. “It does attract attention as well and we also park up on the foreshore, it really is one of the best display of new motorbikes that we get in Geraldton,” he said. Salvation Army Geraldton corps Major Peter Spindler said every year Salvos partners with Ulysses to collect toys to be handed out to families that are doing it tough at Christmas. “The Geraldton Salvation Army normally assists over 60 families each year with toys for their children and in the current economic hardship this number will likely increase significantly this year,” he said. Rigters IGA will donate a prize for the best dressed bike and the best Christmas costume. To donate to the Christmas appeal visit salvationarmy.org.au