100’s of toys were collected to help bring festive cheer to families being cared for by women’s refuges over Christmas.
The annual collection is organised by the Turbinia pub, in Newton Aycliffe, with support from the Aycliffe Bike Club and the Darlington-based Motorcycle Action Group, & other bikers groups.
Forty bikers, a fire engine and a Del-Boys three-wheeler, whose passengers were dressed as Batman and Robin, visited ten pubs to collect donations for the women’s refuge in Bishop Auckland.
The toys will be wrapped up as gifts and given to the families being cared for by the facilities at Christmas.
Gary Soakell, from Aycliffe Bike Club, said: “The staff and customers have been working hard all year raising money to buy toys, and were astounded by all the donations on the toy-run, the generosity has been fantastic.
“Times are hard for people but they have dug deep and we have collected an unbelievable amount of toys. A big thank you to Mel Jameson at Gestamp Tallent’s, & the management staff & customers at Locomotive & Huntsman (Aycliffe) – Victoria (Witton le Wear) – Surtees Arms & Catholic Club (Ferryhill) – Half moon (Kirk Merrington) – Ship (Middlestone) & Elm Rd Club (Shildon). Special thanks to Martin Norris, from Blazing Squad Limo Hire, for providing the fire engine free of charge.”
Fiona Nicol, manager of the Wear Valley Women’s Aid, in Bishop Auckland, said: “We have been absolutely blown away by the amount collected.
“This is going to make such a huge difference to the families we are working with and create some fabulous memories for children who would otherwise have got very little or no presents at all.”