Tantramar Toys for Tots Motorcyle Run continues to thrive

Still going strong after 21 years, the annual Tantramar Toys for Tots Motorcyle Run was another resounding success last weekend, bringing in $15,000 in new toys and donations and attracting about 1,000 riders on more than 750 bikes.

Organizer Mike Purdy said this year's run was held under "the best weather ever."

He said with the help of corporate donations, individual sponsors and the motorcyclists, many local families will have a merrier Christmas this year. Proceeds from the run are distributed through area organizations to families in the Moncton/Sackville/Amherst area who are having difficulty providing for their children.

The toys are forwarded to Moncton Headstart, Sackville Christmas Cheer, Port Elgin Voluntary Action Group, Dorchester Volunteer Association and Amherst Christmas for Kids Campaign.

Over the years the organization has also financially contributed to Sackville Memorial Hospital, Children's Wish Foundation, Terry Fox Run, Bob Edgett's Boxing Club, Amherst Accessible Playground Project, Tree of Life, Hot Lunch Programs, the local civic centre, Playground Improvements, Sackville Athletics, Rare Breed for Rare Disease, Secret Santa and have supported families in Moncton, Scoudouc, Amherst, Sackville, Port Elgin, etc. who had children with very serious illnesses.

Purdy said since the Run's inception in 1989, more than $190,000 has been raised for the cause.

This year, in recognition of ongoing support from Sackville McDonalds owner/operator Danny Moore, the Toy Run has earmarked 10 per cent of all cash donations to go to the Ronald McDonald House in Halifax.

Purdy said prior to the official start of the Toy Run last Saturday afternoon, about 20 bikers headed to Westmorland Institution in Dorchester where the inmate committee presented them a cheque for $1,000. The inmates have been the single largest financial sponsors of the event since 1989. Toy Run organizers presented a 2009 Toy Run shirt to the committee and expressed their thanks for all of the years of support.

The run itself kicked off at 2 p.m., leaving McDonalds and heading towards Silver Lake, onto Folkins Drive, Cattail Ridge, then turning right onto Bridge Street, left onto Main, down Queens Road and on to Dorchester with motorcycles returning to Sackville via King Street to the Tantramar Veterans Memorial Civic Centre.

Upon the return to the civic centre, the Hub City Stunters performed amazing motorized feats. Once inside the civic centre, various awards were given out, including: Youngest Female Rider - Tracy Waterlot; Youngest Male Rider - Brendan Johnston (14); Most Mature Female Rider - Helen Elliot (62); Most Mature Male Rider - Bob Scott (74); Oldest Motorcycle (1971 Harley Davidson FLH Shovelhead)- Harvey Bird. Long Distance Rider was Leo Hutchinson of New Waterford, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.

This year's Toy Run was dedicated to Mike Wheaton, a longtime supporter of the event who passed away in March. Wheaton was a long time participant of this event having participated in the inaugural Toy Run in 1989 and is remembered fondly by his biker brothers and sisters. Also, on Aug. 12, the local community lost a young friend, 14-year-old Jordan Cormier, as a result of a tragic accident on his 50cc scooter. Purdy said Cormier was looking forward to participating in his first Toy Run as a "biker."

Instead of having a moment of silence to remember their departed friends, the Toy Run organizers asked that the folks attending the event "raise the roof in celebration" of the lives of Mike and Jordan. This resulted in a heartwarming "standing ovation" lasting several minutes by all of the people in the civic centre.

Later in the evening, also at the civic centre, the Toy Run fundraising concert featured Matt Minglewood and Band with Threeza Crowd and DC Smith & The Streamliners opening the show.

After auctioneer Brian Tingley auctioned an Epiphone acoustic guitar, donated by Randy Clarke of Long & McQuade in Moncton, Minglewood autographed his guitar for the winning bidder, Tim Purdy of Dorchester, who had the winning bid of $450.

If anyone missed the opportunity to donate this year, Kevin Terrio, owner/operator of Crescent Automotive in the Sackville Industrial Park, has offered to use his business as an "official drop-off site" for the Toy Run.