A few hundred motorcyclists ride in the annual Anderson County Toy Run. (Photo courtesy of Anderson County Toy Run)
An annual motorcycle ride that benefits children at Christmas starts at Moose Lodge in Oak Ridge on Saturday.
The ride has raised about $25,000 per year for the past few years and helped roughly 220 children last year, said Brad Brewster, 2012 chair of the nonprofit Anderson County Toy Run.
Brewster said local churches give Anderson County Toy Run lists of underprivileged children around Christmas each year, and the nonprofit buys $75 to $100 gift cards for the kids. The children then go shopping with escorts from local organizations such as football teams and churches.
“The kids get to buy whatever they want with those gift cards,” he said.
Anderson County Toy Run also donates to local charities such as CASA, Warm Fuzzies, Norwood Boys and Grils Club, and Holiday Bureau of Anderson County.
About 100 to 200 motorcyclists typically ride in the Toy Run, and another 100 people usually participate, Brewster said. Supporters don’t have to ride a motorcycle.
Brewster said all money raised in the toy runs benefits children.
“One hundred percent goes to the kids,” he said.
Riders in tomorrow’s Toy Run will make stops in Coalfield, Wartburg, and Harriman before returning to Throttle Down Bar and Grill in Oak Ridge
For more information, visit http://andersoncountytoyrun.org/.
kay williamson says
we have a great event here with all these motorcyclist and should be so proud of the project that they host every year, ANDERSON COUNTY TOY RUN gets two thumbs up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
John Huotari says
I wasn’t able to make it out to take pictures this year, but I hope all went well.