Worsley Rotary Club’s ever popular Santa Sledge has raised over £10,000 from its annual trip around the streets of Salford.
Over 20 days in the pre-Christmas period the club’s traditional sleigh, complete with lights and festive jingles, visited over 150 streets in Worsley, Walkden, Winton, Moorside, Little Hulton, Wardley, Ellenbrook and Boothstown.
The 35-year-old tradition has become a staple of local life in the run-up to Christmas.
Special stops were made for a number of good causes, including a visit to the home of terminally-ill five-year-old Lexi Chester.
Read: Lexi’s delight with Santa Sledge visit in Walkden
The grand total of £9,368.27 – buoyed by a £1820.35 collection at Tesco Walkden and Farnworth – is expected to be boosted over the £10,000 threshold with a £1,250 Gift Aid application.
It means Worsley Rotary Club will have smashed the £7,000 they made from last year’s Santa Sledge tour.
Chairman Tony Jackson was delighted by the amount raised and praised the wonderfully giving community of Salford.
“We very much thank all those who contributed to the collection, either by standing on the roadside, responding to a knock on the door as the Float passed by, or visiting us at Tesco,” he said.
“It’s a delight to see the tremendous reception the float receives, particularly the smiles and shrieks of delight from the children.
“A typical comment as we pass by being “Our Christmas really starts with the annual appearance of the float.”
Tony also thanked Walkden Rotary, Swinton & Worsley MENCAP, Salford Dadz, Worsley Road United Reformed Church, Childflight, Kenyon Residents Association, 1st Boothstown Guides, St Marks Church Worsley Men’s Group, the Friends of Worsley Rotary and family and friends who all helped with the collection.
He added that the ever-increasing fame of the Santa Sledge meant the group would try to extend the areas they visited in 2016.
“We were particularly pleased to have been able to include Kenyon Way, Whittle Street and Amblecote in our programme this year.
“On the whole the weather was reasonably kind to us but unfortunately we had to curtail the North Walkden collection on 3 December when the rain became torrential.
“We apologise to those families and particularly the children who missed out.
Worsley Rotary Club will now start distributing the proceeds to local charity organisations, as well as holding their annual Dragon’s Den-style funding competition in May 2016.
Clubs or community organisations who want to bid for a share of the Rotary Club’s Dragon’s Den fund can express an interest by emailing tonjac@hotmail.co.uk.
Full details of how to apply will be posted on the club’s website later this month.
