Santa sleigh raises more than £7,000 - all thanks to the generosity of people in Wolverhampton
Volunteers who take a Santa sleigh around Wolverhampton have now raised more than £150,000 over the years.
The latest fundraising total for the most recent Christmas sleigh tour has topped £7,500, thanks to a team of Tettenhall Rotary Club volunteers and help from across the city.
Today members of the club issued a big thank-you to everyone who has helped make the Santa sleigh a success in December.
The sleigh tours the streets of Wolverhampton ahead of Christmas, taking in the city's main estates and thrilling thousands of children.
Bucket collections are held, which go towards good causes across the city. Most of the money raised this year will be helping food banks in the city.
This year’s grand total to donate to local charities and good causes was £7,686.58.
More importantly, Santa was able to see and chat directly to 2,745 children as well as give some joy to those who saw him pass their home as he toured the streets.
Jim Murphy of Tettenhall Rotary Club said: "We have received donations to local charities and good causes of over £150,000 through the course of our many annual Santa Sleigh events, both touring neighbourhoods and at supermarkets in the city.
"All this money has been donated to charities and good causes. Once again, the generosity of the people of Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire towards the Rotary Club of Tettenhall Charity Father Christmas Sleigh collection was overwhelming .
"Our main aim was to bring a little Christmas magic to the children in the city, but we were most grateful for the wonderful response, warm reception and generosity we received, especially when on our house-to-house routes.
"The money we collected will be distributed to many small local charities and good causes in the Wolverhampton area. Every penny you donated will go back into the local Wolverhampton communities."
Mr Murphy said the collection would not have been possible without the help of many organisations throughout the city.
He added: "On behalf of the Rotary Club of Tettenhall, I would like to thank everyone who made donations during the evenings that we took our Father Christmas sleigh around the streets of Claregate, Low Hill, Old Fallings, The Scotlands, Bushbury, Fordhouses, Goldthorn Park and Blakenhall.
"Our total collection for these evenings was £2,278.52. We are grateful to Wolverhampton City Council for inviting us to the switching on of the lights events at Upper Green Tettenhall, Wolverhampton City Centre, and to Bilbrook Parish Council for their event.
"Our day at the Wulfrun Centre raised £590.36 and Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Sainsburys St Marks raised £4,002.79. We are also grateful to The Wulfrun Centre and Sainsburys for inviting us.
"Finally, we would like to thank Listers Car Dealerships for providing the tow vehicle for the sleigh, Fast Exocet Ltd. for sleigh refurbishment, First Stop Wolverhampton for sleigh servicing, Johnsons Dry Cleaners in Tettenhall and the many volunteers who helped us from the Army Cadets, Friends of Rotary, Tettenhall 41 Club and Tettenhall Inner Wheel."
