Revving up to bring good cheer
SANTA GETTING ON HIS BIKE TO GIVE CHILDREN FESTIVE TREATS
A MOTRCYCLING Santa paid a visit to struggling families in North Tyneside to deliver Christmas presents and spread a bit of festive fun.
Father Christmas, along with Mrs Claus and an elf, rode around Shiremoor on Saturday so children could have the chance to see him despite the ongoing pandemic.
The event was the brainchild of Louise Jones, 47, who leads the ‘Shiremoor and Backworth Community Group – Looking After Each Other.’
Each child gets a personal visit, a selection box, a sweet cone, and they even get their very own certificate which says: ‘I am on the nice list courtesy of Motorbike Santa.’
They also have the opportunity to sit on Santa’s bike and rev the engine as well as pose for photos.
Everyone involved is a volunteer and the event is free for all families with Sainsbury’s providing the chocolate and residents from across North Tyneside donating the sweets for the cones.
Santa and his team gave out in excess of 300 gifts to children.
The Motorbike Santa is actually Mrs Jones’ son Luke Chambers, 27 and Mrs Claus is her daughter-in-law Rosie Purves.
The community group Mrs Jones runs not only holds community events but also helps people with food, clothing and essentials.
She said: “It all started before Covid, we have provided help to anyone in our communities who needs it.
“There is no criteria, we do not ask any questions we just help anyone who needs it.
“If you cannot afford winter coats we can provide them for you.
“I will go to all of my contacts from the group or supermarkets. I will put a note on the group to say we have another request and people just want to help.
“I have had black bin bags left on my doorstep filled with stuff, I get messages from people wanting to help. We don’t ask for any money and we are not a charity, it is just a community looking after each other.”
Mrs Jones said the community spirit is especially important during current times to help with people’s mental health.
She added: “The skills of some of these volunteers is incredible. This one lady earns a minimum wage but she should be on a fabulous wage with the skills she has.
“People who maybe have not been given a chance are getting to use their skills to help others.
“If Covid had taught us anything it is that we have to look after each other. This group also helps with people’s mental health.”
This year was the first time they had run their Motorbike Santa event and they first visited children in Backworth last week.
Mrs Jones said it provided families with a “bit of fun” and allowed children who were previously unable to go out and see Santa to meet him in real-life.
She said: “A lot of these kids have not been able to go out and see Santa so it was lovely to bring him to them instead.
“My son is a single dad, he works and is doing a masters degree yet he still finds the time to do this, it is just amazing.
“It is exhausting and hard work but it is so worth it.”