VALDOSTA — When the Outback Riders motorcycle club hosts its annual toy ride next week, they will mark 25 years of gathering toys for children at Christmas.

The 2017 toy ride is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 16, starting at the Lake Park Outlets at 1:30 p.m. following a blessing of the bikes.

The motorcyclists, each of whom is bringing at least one new, unwrapped toy, will be escorted by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office up U.S. 41, then pick up a Valdosta Police Department escort up Ashley Street before ending the ride at the Five Points Shopping Center, said Don Brotherton, longtime ride organizer.

The toy ride was started in 1993. From a modest start with 50-60 bikes that year, the ride has grown to about 1,500 bikers in good weather, he said. 

“They’ve come from as far as middle Florida, Tallahassee, Macon — roughly a 200-250 mile radius,” Brotherton said.

Toys gathered for the ride will be donated to the Salvation Army, while any cash donations will help the Empty Stocking Fund, Brotherton said.

Along with the motorcyclists, people who want to simply donate toys can do so at either the Lake Park Outlets start or the Five Points ending of the ride, he said. As many as 3,000 toys have been collected in the past, Brotherton said.

Businesses have been generous in providing door prizes for the ride, he said.

Riders can avoid registration lines the morning of the ride by pre-registering at Mikki’s Bar, 402 Northside Drive, the day before, he said.

Terry Richards is senior reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times.