California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, Inc.
8120 36th Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95824-2304
916-381-8300

Contact: Jack Raudy
(530) 389-9154

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SACRAMENTO (Dec. 12, 2003) – Hundreds of underprivileged children living in the greater Sacramento area will have wide smiles and exciting moments as they receive toys, bicycles and sleeping bags on Christmas eve, thanks to the generosity of four-wheel drive enthusiasts from throughout northern California.

The 16^th annual Gold Country Toy Run, recently hosted by the Sacramento-based Hi-Landers four-wheel drive club, attracted more than 340 participants who donated 624 new toys, six bicycles and five tricycles. In addition, 200 new sleeping bags will be donated from funds collected at last year’s toy run event.

Darla Quaresma, event chair, and other volunteers from the Hi-Landers club spend hundreds of hours organizing the toy run event, that offers a visit with Santa Claus, good food and a parade that takes participants from Lake Natoma, north on Hazel Avenue, through the town of Folsom and west on Highway 50 and back to the lake staging area.

"We all have had times in our lives when we needed a little help," said Quaresma, "and this event is a positively wonderful way to repay kindness that had been extended to us during those hard times. It is the spirit of Christmas. It is a huge endeavor during an already busy time of the year, but that warm and fuzzy feeling that you get at the end of the day makes it all worth while."

The Sierra Treasure Hunters four-wheel drive club was honored for having 52 members participate in the event; the best representation within the California Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs. Second place went to Trail Busters from Solano County with 37 members. A total of 21 clubs participated in the event.

For the past year, children from the Sierra Treasure Hunters club have been collecting cans and soliciting donations from neighbors and various businesses to buy toys for the needy children. During this year’s toy run event, the children donated 140 toys and three bicycles, which they delivered in their special-built sleigh pulled by one of the member’s Jeep.

After the parade, many of the decorated vehicles lined up for judging. In one of the closest balloting in recent years, Lisa Strobridge of Orangevale, driving her Jeep Grand Cherokee, was declared the overall winner. The runner-up award went to Dennis Barthomew and his grandson, Trey, from Sacramento.

"When you see the excitement on the faces of the volunteers working at Christmas Promise when we drive up with the truck filled with toys and sleeping bags, it is so heartwarming," said Quaresma. "Our efforts pale in comparison to the untiring efforts of the volunteers at Christmas Promise. I am also very proud of the generosity of the four-wheel drive community. These are truly wonderful people."

For more information on participating in the 17^th annual Gold Country Toy Run, contact Darla Quaresma at (530) 672-1452 or email d.quaresma@att.net.

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California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs Inc
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CA4WDC, INC.
8120 36th Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95824-2304
800 - 4x4-Funn
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