The Portland Press Herald Toy Fund in the Spirit of Bruce Roberts received an unexpected $10,000 check from the Maine Marathon last week. The money will help buy new toys for Maine kids who face a Christmas without presents because of hardships faced by their families.

The Portland Press Herald Toy Fund in the Spirit of Bruce Roberts uses those donations to provide toys to thousands of Maine children who might otherwise not receive a holiday gifts because of hardships faced by their parents.

The said fund is now in its 67th year is accepting applications for toys from needy families in Cumberland, York, Sagadahoc, Lincoln and Knox Countries.

More than 3,000 runners participate in the organization's marathon, half-marathon and relay each October. The Maine Track Club uses between 14 and 20 percent of the proceeds from the races to benefit charities, Spear said, and most of the money goes to organizations that help children. Since 1997, according to Spear, the races and race participants have raised nearly $4 million for charity.

2016 marathon was the 25th, and the anniversary prompted the board to double the usual total charitable donation to $204,000. "This being our 25th year, we've kind of gone overboard," Spear said. Among the beneficiaries was the toy fund.

The $10,000 gift to the Press Herald toy fund was celebrated as a major boost for the nonprofit, which raises most of its donations from individual newspaper readers and rarely receives a five-figure check.

Here are some of the other Toy Fund Donors:

Maine Marathon Race Committee $10,000

In memory of Marthann Hartford - Buzz and Sandra Hartford $50

In memory of Jim and Lutie Barr $300

Harry Konkel $500

Merry Christmas from Speedy Stop $250

In memory of my mother, Marthann Hartford, a longtime Fund volunteer - Wendy McCann & family $20

Merry Christmas from Leslie and Rich $100

Anonymous $50

In memory of Joe Guertin, who loved toys $50

Happy Holidays! - Luka and Lydia $25

From all the good little boys and girls in the Newell family - Christopher Newell $100

In memory of Roscoe and Evelyn Seabury from Marjorie Estabrook $100

In memory of our mother, Peggy McKinnon, who loved Christmas, from "All her kids" $100

In memory of Lora A. Lemanski $50

In memory of Rick $20

Merry Christmas from Sandra Michniewicz $50

Polly Carmichael $50

Merry Christmas from Caleb $25

In memory of the Busby family $50

In honor of our wonderful grandchildren, Piper, Scarlett, Dylan, Camdyn and Memphis, Merry Christmas! $50

In memory of Jack Deering $75

Greg Soper Woodworking $100

In memory of Red and Dot Swett $100

Happy Holidays to all! Derek Berg $500

In memory of Ken E. Morse and Devon Higgins; in honor of Jaime L. Higgins - the Morse, Higgins, Holt and Currier families $50

In memory of Frances & Joseph Morse, Ken Morse, Devon Higgins, Bill Keith, Helen Keith Gallant, Arthur Gallant, Bill Keith Jr. $25

In memory of Jeanie and Audrey Keith, Vickie Gallant and Bruce Chuluda from the Morse, Higgins, Holt and Currier families $25

In honor of James D. Wallace - we love you and miss you, Grampie/Dad $200

In memory of Josie $30

For the children, in memory of Joseph A. Barbarino of Joe's Deli and Pizza $50

Paul & Katie Dexter $50