By Mark Dreger

Motorcycle enthusiasts香蕉视频直播攊ncluding Santa Claus香蕉视频直播攇athered at McCurdy Corner Sunday morning to take part in the Kelowna Toy Run to help kids and families in need.

Riders enjoyed breakfast and conversation with like-minded riders while others looked at the large display of bikes from sport bikes and cruisers, to touring bikes and Can-am Spiders.

香蕉视频直播淭his is the single largest contributing event to the Salvation Army香蕉视频直播檚 Christmas Toy Hamper Program,香蕉视频直播� said Brendan Buttler, who has been the event organizer for the last six years. 香蕉视频直播淲e had last year probably around $5,000 worth of stuff that we donated to the Salvation Army between stuff collected here and cash stuff I bought in the fall.香蕉视频直播�

Every year the Salvation Army serves hundreds of families that need help at Christmas time, with over 500 families registered last year and over 1,100 toys given away.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e got two little kids and every Christmas I look at the smiles on their faces when they get their presents and I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 imagine other kids not having that, and that香蕉视频直播檚 what keeps me doing this year to year,香蕉视频直播� Buttler said.

Dave Ford, a retired Kelowna resident who rides a red Spider, took part in his first Kelowna Toy Run event to gather with others for the cause.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e here gathered for a common cause; good people getting together to help those in need,香蕉视频直播� Ford said. 香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 a good enough reason to get together.香蕉视频直播�

Ford worked in the military and did toy drives for military families and is happy to see the Salvation Army doing terrific work reaching far and wide for families in need.

香蕉视频直播淚 was fortunate enough to have [toys] while I was a kid, therefore it香蕉视频直播檚 my turn to give back,香蕉视频直播� he said.

With Christmas soon approaching, complications sometimes strike that leads to families needing help.

香蕉视频直播淭here was a family three years ago that about a week before Christmas their house got broken into in Kelowna here and robbed and all their Christmas toys got stolen,香蕉视频直播� Buttler said. 香蕉视频直播淚 got in contact with her and found out what stuff her kids wanted for Christmas and I went out and I bought the stuff , delivered it over to her house, and watching her breakdown in tears in her living room saying to her kids, 香蕉视频直播業 told you guys there are angels out there.香蕉视频直播� Little things like that keep me doing this every year.香蕉视频直播�

Since the event began in 1985, the Kelowna Toy Run is one of the major donation of toys to The Salvation Army with over 500 toys brought to their warehouse last year.