Eight years ago, a group of bikers decided to shed their tough image, and do something to help seriously-ill children in hospital.

So, armed with chocolate and sweets, almost 200 members of the Oxford UK chapter of the Harley Owners’ Group rode in convoy from the Harley-Davidson dealership in Wootton Road, Abingdon, to the children’s cancer ward at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

That one-off mission has since grown into an annual pilgrimage to the hospital.

And instead of sweets, now the bikers spend weeks gathering gifts such as teddy bears, crayons and colouring books to hand out to the children.

Oxford UK chapter director Cy Grieve Davies said: “It all started about eight years ago.

“We approached the hospital and asked if there was anything we could do to help.

“Initially the ride was timed over Easter and the gifts were of chocolate Easter eggs.

“But, for obvious reasons, we don’t deliver sweets anymore. Instead, we deliver toys kindly donated by our members.”

In 2009, the big-hearted bikers named their annual charity toy run after young cancer victim Jake Spicer.

Fifteen-year-old Jake, from Blackbird Leys, Oxford, lost a six-year battle with cancer in July of that year.

The teenager, known as the ‘OX4 soldier’ to his friends and ‘Little Harley to the bikers, did not let his rare form of bone cancer get in the way of his passion for motorbikes, and was made an honorary member of the Oxford chapter.

Mr Grieve said the group would soon begin collecting toys for the next toy run in April.

He said: “It feels brilliant to be able to help. know the strains some of these kids are under and knowing we are helping make their lives a bit better is wonderful.”