This was the 9^th Toy Run in Nelspruit but the first organized by the Lowveld Toy Run Trust, the Non-Profit-Organisation formed with the members of Lowveld Ulysses MC, who presented the Toy Run for the previous 8 years.

This year we decided to have the Main event on the Saturday and finish with the Mass Ride on Sunday, that way the ‘Out-of-Town’ Bikers could enjoy a beer or two and stay over instead of having to ride home.

Bikes from all 4 corners of Mpumalanga arrived at the Nelspruit Showgrounds on Saturday and were welcomed by a Trade Show, Food Stalls, Beer Tent, Live Radio Broadcast by Radio Laeveld and 8 Local Bands who played free of charge until late that night. Raffle tickets were sold  and big prizes were won: Weekends away, Meal and Gift Vouchers, Hampers, etc. The total value of all prizes was R50 000.

Sunday morning saw the gathering of close on 300 bikes, most of them decorated with loads of toys, stationery, toiletries etc. to be distributed by Round Table Nelspruit to the children in Mpumalanga’s orphanages, children’s homes, hospitals etc. All cash donations will be converted into ‘kind’ by the Rotary Club of White River:  either Food parcels or items on ‘wishlists’.

The Mass Ride set off at 9 a.m. through the suburbs and City Centre of Nelspruit, finishing at O’Hagans, where all enjoyed a breakfast at discounted prices.

There were 3 trophies handed over for best decorated bike and one prize for the best Rat bike. 

The weather over all was not fantastic, but at least the rain held off and all comments received on the event so far were positive and encouraging.  The organizers thank all bikers and members of the public for making this a memorable weekend.

Renate Wagner