Christmas Toy Appeal 2018: Bikers brave the weather in annual run to drop off toys

PUBLISHED: 09:00 05 December 2018

Rhiannon Long

Paula Blake and Father Christmas, collecting toys on behalf of the appeal from the generous bikers. Picture: Melissa Page

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Donations included board games, art supplies and cuddly toys. Picture: Melissa Page

You weren’t imagining things – it was the annual biker run for the Community Links and Newham Recorder’s Christmas Toy Appeal.

Every year, big-hearted bikers drive 15 miles from High Beach in Epping Forest, Essex, to drop off toys at the Terence Brown Arc.

Despite some particularly dreary December weather this year, around 30 bikers managed to make the ride.

Among the 100 gifts collected were some cuddly toys, board games and paintbrushes and crayons.

Paula Blake and Father Christmas, collecting toys on behalf of the appeal from the generous bikers. Picture: Melissa Page

We’re aiming to collect 18,000 toys for this year’s toy appeal, and with donations from the bikers, Tesco, Newham Bookshop and Newham Libraries, we’re well on the way already.

But if you’d like to add to the pile, you can donate a toy at one of our drop-off points, or give a monetary donation at bit.ly/2rgYUny.