Now in its 26^th year the annual bike ride is set to attract more then 300 riders to Lake Pertobe where Santa’s helpers will handover toys to the Salvation Army.

Riders will travel with their toys from Warrnambool to Port Fairy, Koroit, Mailors Flat, Grassmere, Bushfeld and Woodford, wheeling into Lake Pertobe for a barbecue at 2.30pm.

Event organiser Trevor Warnecke said the Christmas Toy Run was born when a group of bikers known as the Road Runners decided to spread some Christmas cheer.

“We were all bike riders back in the 80’s,” he said. “A few of us thought it’d be a great social event with a good cause.

“It’s about bringing Christmas to the kids,” he said.

“Making sure every kid gets a gift under the tree.”

Mr Warnecke said gifts would be distributed to children aged six to 16 by the Warrnambool branch of the Salvation Army.

“The gifts are for toddlers to teens, so we need to remember the early teens when we’re choosing gifts too.” 

The 2018 Toy Run will depart Warrnambool’s Rafferty’s Tavern at 1pm.

“There’ll be everything from scooters to Harley Davidsons to sports bikes,” Mr Warnecke said.

“Attracting anyone with a passion for bikes who wants to help.

“With so many of us expected on the roads at once though, just a reminder we need all participants to ride to road rules and conditions.”