Hundreds upon hundreds of riders – with early estimates hitting the 300 mark – took part in the annual Moose Jaw Cycle Association event on Saturday afternoon, with the roaring procession rolling up Main Street to the Thatcher Drive location for the local Salvation Army.
There, participants dropped off their toys, which will be distributed as Christmas presents to those families in need.
“I’m blown away, I think this is the best ever,” said Salvation Army Maj. Dan Broome with a tone of amazement. “Over the last four years since I’ve been here it’s grown immensely but I think this tops it all.
“I’m always amazed by the generosity of the people who are a part of this every year, the riders who come out every year. Then you have the beautiful weather today and the crowd of people that are here, we’re really happy to see everyone come out.”
The event’s format is rather simple. Pick up a brand new toy, show up at the assembly area on Manitoba Street, ride to the Salvation Army, drop off your toy and voila, you’ve made a family’s Christmas that much better.
“The families who come to apply to receive Christmas assistance will receive a brand new toy, and as you see there are lots of them, so the kids will maybe even receive several toys,” Broome said with a laugh.
“It helps a lot because without it we’d have to purchase the toys, we also have cash donations to help with Christmas, but it’s a lot of toys to buy and not a lot of places in Moose Jaw to buy them. So this really does go a long way to making Christmas easier for us at the Salvation Army.”
That’s all music to the ears of Moose Jaw Cycle Association president Murray Roney.
“The support we get from the bikers is amazing, absolutely amazing,” he said as the hundreds of rider and supporters milled around the Salvation Army parking lot. “And then to see the people on Main Street who were lining up to watch us go by, the support is phenomenal. It’s hard to fathom sometimes but then you go ‘oh it’s for the kids, that’s why people out’ and it all makes sense.”
The 2019 turnout was just as exceptional in Roney’s eyes as it was to Broome.
“It’s a big turnout, quite a bit bigger than last year, for sure… the number fluctuates depending on if the farmers are still out farming and there are some people who don’t ride if it’s raining, but if it’s a day like this, there’s a lot of people who come out,” he said. “We’re so appreciative and I almost can’t believe it.”
Anyone looking to add to the Christmas toy haul or to simply make a donation can contact the Salvation Army through Facebook, through their website or by calling (306) 692-5899 for more information.
