Toy run comes to town

Jill and Steve de Buisson collecting donations during the 2013 Tauranga Toy Run. Photo / Supplied

Get your toys and your cash ready - the Tauranga Toy Run is coming to town tonight.

The toy run is in its 12th year and is fundraising for Waipuna Hospice and collecting new toys for children with cancer.

Jill and Steve de Buisson and John and Sarah Ellis organise the annual event, which attracts up to 200 cars each run.

Today, the cars meet at Baypark at 6pm, then at 6.30pm leave the stadium, travel through Papamoa via Domain Rd, cruise to Downtown Mount Maunganui, hit Downtown Tauranga then drive up Fraser St to Fraser Cove, arriving about 7.20pm.

The cars will park up for a show and shine, and volunteers will be shaking buckets for donations.

Mrs de Buisson said rather than soft toys, the organisers asked people to donate things such as puzzles and books, which were appreciated by children spending a lot of time in waiting rooms.

With up to 200 cars each run and usually two or three people per car, there would be hundreds of people taking part in the event.

Local businesses also get involved, with World's End, Burger King and Fraser Cove management all sponsoring the event.

Mrs de Buisson said most people who got involved had been touched by cancer in some way.

"When you've been helped by Waipuna Hospice, you realise how special they are and how much they are needed," she said.

"If we can give a little bit back, it's only small but it's something."

Mrs de Buisson said all sorts of cars were involved in the toy run - everything from hot rods to V8 Holdens. Japanese cars were not included in the run.

The donated toys would be given to children at their Christmas parties and on their birthdays throughout the year.

"It all goes a long way," Mrs de Buisson said.