SANTA swapped his sleigh for something a bit different this year as he delivered presents to children in Edinburgh's Royal Hospital for Sick Children with the help of some Peebles elves.
More than 50 bikers from Peebles and Edinburgh donned their finest Christmas gear and rode out to RHSC to deliver presents on their decorated motorbikes.
As part of the annual Santa Run, Peebles Motorcycle Clan (PMC) and Edinburgh & District Advanced Motorcyclists (EDAM) join together to bring some Christmas cheer, and toys, to the hospital.
EDAM started the Santa Run in 2013 and PMC joined later in 2016.
Santa Run organiser, Stuart Richardson, said: “We were inspired by previous Santa Runs that we had seen in Dumfries and Galloway and Glasgow, and we wanted to start our own as there wasn’t one taking place in Edinburgh.
“The support we get from families, friends, colleagues and the local community every year is just incredible and allows us to give the kids some really special gifts.
"We know Christmas can be a challenging time for children, young people and their families in hospital, so we like to do our bit where we can to spread some festive cheer.”
Rachel Baxter, Director of Fundraising at Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity, added: “Christmas is a very special time of year and we work hard to ensure that no child or young person in hospital misses out on the joy of the festive season.
“We are incredibly grateful to the motorcyclists for their generosity year on year. Seeing everyone’s faces light up when they see the bikes and receive their gifts always makes it a Christmas to remember.
“We exist to ensure children and young people’s lives are less interrupted by illness and they have a more positive hospital experience. It is with the help of activities like the Santa Run that we are able to do this.”
Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity work tirelessly to ensure that nothing gets in the way of being a child.
Having recently launched its Make Christmas Magical campaign, the charity works to ensure children, young people and their families have the best possible hospital experience, not just at Christmas but all year round.
To donate to ECHC, visit www.echcharity.org/donate
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