11 December 2012

Toys for Kids. 2012 Toy Run.

| dazzab
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The Motorcycle Riders’ Association of the ACT annual Toy Run was held on Saturday 8 December, 2012 at Old Parliament House in Canberra. Over 1000 riders, friends and supporters joined in to donate $15,000 worth of toys and $6,000 in cash to support the Salvation Army and St John’s Care.

701 motorcycles, decorated for the season, made up the official group ride to Commonwealth Park for the formal presentations. If you want proof that Canberra does indeed have a soul, just watch the video.

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Conan of Cooma said :

Yeah, because poor kids need toys, not food or shelter. Perhaps they can put the toys right next to the 42″ LCD TV their parents bought with the baby bonus when they were born.

You embarrass yourself with this sort of fishing expedition. DId you hope the right wing nutters would spring in with a bunch of “well saids”?

thatsnotme said :

I guess that would have disrupted his ‘anyone suffering financial difficulty has blown their baby bonus on hookers, blow and giant flat screen TV’s’ argument though, and we can’t have that!

This. I can not tell you how sick I am of that argument.

St Johns Care feeds more than 6000 Canberra & region people a year plus another 400+ on Christmas Day, not bad for an almost totally volunteer based organization operating in an old classroom; it also strongly advocates for the Safe Shelter project (in the news today http://bit.ly/VCUpds) and Common Ground. The massive Salvation Army does heaps of emergency relief and has the tender for various homelessness services in Canberra and all over the place.

(I did actually already know this, I wonder if my attempt at sarcasm before didn’t come off very well.)

What these organizations also know from providing food and shelter is that what matters at least as much is company and caring and not letting people feel isolated. That’s where the Christmas presents, wrapping paper and cards, Christmas food etc come in, among other things. Not celebrating something is all very well if it’s a choice but pretty hard on the family if it’s just because there’s no money.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd6:33 am 13 Dec 12

Conan of Cooma said :

Yeah, because poor kids need toys, not food or shelter. Perhaps they can put the toys right next to the 42″ LCD TV their parents bought with the baby bonus when they were born.

Of course they need food and shelter, which these organisations do also provide.
A nice toy for a child that literally has nothing can make them so happy and a huge difference.

clj said :

Conan of Cooma said :

Yeah, because poor kids need toys, not food or shelter. Perhaps they can put the toys right next to the 42″ LCD TV their parents bought with the baby bonus when they were born.

Thanks Conan, I will suggest this to the Salvation Army and St John’s Care. I don’t think they offer or support any food or shelter programs but it’s a great idea.

What a shame Conan couldn’t do a simple Google search for you, which would have confirmed that his concerns were well addressed by the programs that both organisations currently provide. I guess that would have disrupted his ‘anyone suffering financial difficulty has blown their baby bonus on hookers, blow and giant flat screen TV’s’ argument though, and we can’t have that!

Conan of Cooma said :

Yeah, because poor kids need toys, not food or shelter. Perhaps they can put the toys right next to the 42″ LCD TV their parents bought with the baby bonus when they were born.

How many poor kids do you know? How many parents of poor kids do you know that have 42″ LCD televisions? I suspect you are poorly informed but if you care to quote your references I’m prepared to be educated.

Tessmess said :

If you’re keen to join in on this sort of ride, the MRA also have an annual Blanket Run in May. Same sort of deal as the Toy Run – donate blankets, food, cash – and the ride follows the same route. Keep an eye out for it next year.

There’s a cool video about this year’s Blanket Run on YouTube

http://youtu.be/rilkGQep1cY

No points for guessing who made it. 🙂

If you’re keen to join in on this sort of ride, the MRA also have an annual Blanket Run in May. Same sort of deal as the Toy Run – donate blankets, food, cash – and the ride follows the same route. Keep an eye out for it next year.

Conan of Cooma said :

Yeah, because poor kids need toys, not food or shelter. Perhaps they can put the toys right next to the 42″ LCD TV their parents bought with the baby bonus when they were born.

Thanks Conan, I will suggest this to the Salvation Army and St John’s Care. I don’t think they offer or support any food or shelter programs but it’s a great idea.

Conan of Cooma2:51 pm 12 Dec 12

Yeah, because poor kids need toys, not food or shelter. Perhaps they can put the toys right next to the 42″ LCD TV their parents bought with the baby bonus when they were born.

dazzab said :

Thanks. This isn’t really an advertisement. As you note, that really has to be done before an event.

I shoot these videos more as a documentary of what great times you can have while motorcycling and as an opportunity to learn a bit about making short videos.

Oh cool, dazzab I didn’t realise you made this. Really enjoyed watching it – thanks for posting!

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Why hear about this after the fact? Wouldnt it get even more donations if they advertised the event?

Great work regardless.

Thanks. This isn’t really an advertisement. As you note, that really has to be done before an event.

I shoot these videos more as a documentary of what great times you can have while motorcycling and as an opportunity to learn a bit about making short videos.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

whatever the case, they missed out on my donation soley becuase i had no idea.

The Salvation Army and St John’s will be happy to accept your support at anytime, I’m sure. No need to wait for a Toy Run although now that you know put it on your calendar for next year.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd12:59 pm 12 Dec 12

aceofspades said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Why hear about this after the fact? Wouldnt it get even more donations if they advertised the event?

Great work regardless.

I am no expert but the event is organised by the NRA and most motorcycle riders know about it. I doubt there is budget for a massive adverising campaign.

whatever the case, they missed out on my donation soley becuase i had no idea.

aceofspades said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Why hear about this after the fact? Wouldnt it get even more donations if they advertised the event?

Great work regardless.

I am no expert but the event is organised by the NRA and most motorcycle riders know about it. I doubt there is budget for a massive adverising campaign.

That’s correct. Most riders are either part of their local riders association or through forums like netrider etc and are notified through those free avenues.

aceofspades said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Why hear about this after the fact? Wouldnt it get even more donations if they advertised the event?

Great work regardless.

I am no expert but the event is organised by the NRA and most motorcycle riders know about it. I doubt there is budget for a massive adverising campaign.

Sorry, “MRA ACT”

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Why hear about this after the fact? Wouldnt it get even more donations if they advertised the event?

Great work regardless.

I kind of agree, I never hear about it beforehand except in passing through St Johns Care.

If anyone’s interested in what SJC is doing for Christmas with the money, it’s in my post here http://the-riotact.com/help-at-christmas-time/90399

Please forgive the blatant ‘zomg look at my postz!!’ but like you say, Comic, ideally people would hear about things before or at least while they are happening in case they are interested or know someone who is.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Why hear about this after the fact? Wouldnt it get even more donations if they advertised the event?

Great work regardless.

I am no expert but the event is organised by the NRA and most motorcycle riders know about it. I doubt there is budget for a massive adverising campaign.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd10:11 am 12 Dec 12

Why hear about this after the fact? Wouldnt it get even more donations if they advertised the event?

Great work regardless.

what_the said :

Well as long as they dont have loud exhaust pipes! I hope the EPA will be out in force for these menaces…

You nearly got me to bite before I spotted the sarcastic humour. Well played!

Well as long as they dont have loud exhaust pipes! I hope the EPA will be out in force for these menaces…

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