2009 Toy Run: December 13

Back in 1978, when 40 motorcyclists met up to deliver toys to underprivileged kids through the Salvation Army, little did they know that more than 30 years on the annual pilgrimage would still be taking place.

The yearly event takes place in Victoria and South Australian and is called the Toy Run. Organised by the Motorcycle Riders Association, it has attracted more than 100,000 motorcyclists over the years.

In 2009, the date for the Toy Run is Sunday, December 13 and, due to its popularity, the event set-up has been changed slightly.

MRA (Vic) President John Karmouche said that the Melbourne Toy Run had become something of a victim of its own success.

"Over the years the Toy Run has grown to the extent that finding the resources needed to run it from one central location was becoming increasingly costly," he said. "With the numbers that wanted to take part, particularly at its peak, the police needed to close roads and coordinate traffic.

"This year we've decided to decentralise the Toy Run, and create four different departure points which will make it easier for everyone involved and be much less of a financial burden on the organisation."

So when the Toy Run kicks off on December 13, riders can join in from a number of staging points, such as Melton, Cranbourne, Eltham, or Werribee to name a few, and converge on Williamstown. See the list below for all the staging locations.

The South Australian Toy Run will leave Anzac Highway at Glenelg at 11:00am on Sunday, December 13. More details can be found on the MRA South Australia website.

Motorcyclists that want to take part in the Melbourne Toy Run can check out the official website for more information.

Melton - High Street Shops 8:00am (High St service road outside 288 High Street Between Palmerston St and Smith St) 
Cranbourne - Cranbourne Centro Car Park 8:00am (147 High St - cnr Stawell St)
Eltham - Eltham Village Shopping Centre 8:00am (6 Arthur St - cnr Commercial Place)
Inner City - McDonalds 8:30am (199 Queens Pde, Clifton Hill)
Ferntree Gully - Royal Hotel 8:00am (Upper Ferntree Gully)
Werribee - Werribee Shopping Plaza 8:00am (behind Di Caprio's Restaurant 88 Derrimut Rd)