02/10/2023
Welcome to Toy Run!!
Toy Dash started with very humble beginnings…
My husband and I owned a HQ 1Tonner and we loved going for a cruise to a pub somewhere for lunch with mates on a weekend so I decided to make these outings into a charity event. I started with fundraising events such as “Give me 5 for kids” and “get your engine purring for Jemimas Gift” which eventually turned into Toy Run to the Roo (The Kangaroo Hotel in Maldon) This event ran for 2 years after which I changed the location to Prattys Patch in Maiden Gully. That was 10 years ago!! After years of Prattys Patch being the venue for this amazing event, I decided to share the love with other Bendigo Businesses and moved the event to Axedale Tavern in 2024. This year (2025) The Toy Run venue is St Anne's Winery Bendigo.
What is Toy Run + Show & Shine?
Cars, Motorbikes, trucks - anything with wheels, show condition or not - meet at the BP in Ravenswood on the first Sunday of December with an unwrapped toy for donation to the Salvation Army Bendigo. From there we cruise to a location in Bendigo where the toys are collected, Santa comes on a fire truck, we have a show & shine, live music, lunch and a raffle is ran by Advanced Engine Dynamics Bendigo. All money raised by the raffle is used to buy even more toys which are also donated to the Salvation Army.
Every year hundreds of Central Victorian families look to the Salvation Army for help at Christmas time. Without the generous donations from Toy Dash supporters these families would otherwise go without Christmas presents for their children.
Organising the Toy Dash for 10 years running has been challenging but so so rewarding. Since starting Toy Dash all those years ago I now have 2 young children of my own and I can't even begin imagine how it would feel not being able to buy them presents at Christmas time.
Knowing this event is helping struggling families is such a great feeling. But all this is only made possible by the support from everyone coming along every year and donating toys. Without the support from all these beautiful people this event wouldn't be possible.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to message the page.
Thank you for visiting my page
Melanie Tatt