Santa’s got a new sleigh
About 50 motorbikes roared into St Vincent’s Hospital on Sunday morning carrying hundreds of gifts for patients as part of the 21st Kings Cross Bikers’ Annual Christmas Toy Run.
Throughout the year, group founder ‘Animal’ wraped gifts, labelling them ‘male’ or ‘female’.
Kings Cross Bikers President ‘Chips’ led the event, wearing a valet suit and a helmet with reindeer antlers while riding a small scooter, dwarfed by the monstrous bikes about him.
He said traditional toy runs bring gifts to charity groups to distribute, but this run is unique.
“We all grab a handful, go into all the wards and personally hand them to the patients so they get a present and a visit at the same time – And that’s the big difference between this toy run and all other toy runs,” he said.
“It’s called a ‘toy run’ cos that’s traditionally what you call it. I suppose it’s a ‘gift run’, because it’s predominantly adults that we do here and down at Sacred Heart, and then we go down to the Cross, and what’s left we just put out on a tarp and just let everyone come and help themselves. That’s usually when the kids get involved.
“This sort of thing brings everyone together, it’s a feelgood thing and it just shows the other side that the media portrays of bikers.”
Jet, age 5, from Darlinghurst attended the run with his dad, Steven.
“Last year he gave toys to Animal, and this year he decided he wanted to go though all his toys. Bob the Builder went, Thomas the Tank Engine went… Spiderman. Everything,” said Steven.
Ross Marks from Bikers Australia and Easy Riders is up for a charity ride whenever he has time off from his job at Energy Australia.
“I’m pretty fortunate in life – I’m 55, I’ve got good health, I’ve got money, so why not give it around to somebody else? I don’t mind sharing me wealth – times are good for me. I just hope when my times are tough, someone does it for me.”
This year’s ride was dedicated to seven-year-old Michaela from Cobar in central NSW who has Primary Pulmonary Hypertension.
The disease causes high blood pressure, resulting in difficulty exercising and high risk of heart failure. Michaela’s brother died from the disease at age three.
Biker Jenny Patten says this is likely to be her last Christmas, and bikers around Australia are doing what they can to help her mum financially.
“Her oxygen bills are $800 dollars a month alone. Her mum’s only on a carers payment,” said Jenny.
“We can’t find her a cure, but we can definitely make sure that they’ve got no troubles and no worries and just enjoy the Christmas that they’ve got.”
By Lawrence Bull
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