Santa leads procession of 158 motorcycles up Tyner Boulevard on Prince George Toy Run. Photo 250News

Prince George, B.C. – The 35^th annual Prince George Toy Run benefitting the Salvation Army’s Christmas Hamper season attracted some diehard riders who weathered a rainy Sunday to collect gifts for kids at Christmas.

The Salvation Army’s Bill Glasgow says there were 158 motorcycles in the actual ride “which isn’t bad, all things considered.”  There were more people on the ride than that as some folks doubled up on bikes.  And also not included in the total are the bike riders who chose not to take part in the ride but did show up to drop off toys at the CN Centre parking lot.

Glasgow says it’s difficult to estimate how many toys have been donated over the past 34 years of this event.  “It’s tough to say but I can say that, on average, we’ve done between 375 and 450 riders (each year) that bring in toys and donations.  It does help a lot of families I can tell you that much, but I couldn’t give you a firm number on that.”

Organizer Jenni Parent said she expected a decent turnout Sunday adding “I’ve seen a lot of people drop off their toys even if they can’t make (the ride).  She also could not estimate the number of people who, collectively, have supported the Toy Run over the years but said “every year its kind of grown.  Last year we did right around 400 and this year we were hoping for more, but the rain may deter a few people.”

“It’s such a great charity and the Salvation Army people are always here with smiles and the truck set up with food and beverages, tents set up, so its really great.

Glasgow says people who don’t ride motorcycle can still drop off toys to the Army.  “They can make donations either at the church on Ospika or at the donation depot on 18^th Avenue.  He says the cutoff date for doing that is “usually around the 16^th or 18^th od December, in there.  We usually do our distribution around the 20^th, depending on the calendar.”

“Usually the beginning of October we have a Christmas Wish Centre that we use for our Kettle Campaign and our Christmas hampers, but nothing has been determined about that yet.