Hundreds of people dressed as Father Christmas helped raise thousands of pounds for St Elizabeth Hospice during our first Suffolk Santas event.
They took part in a mass bucket collection of donations in their commmunity, workplace or out on the streets on Friday 26th November.
Among those taking part were the Bunting family from Felixstowe who collected in Ipswich and Felixstowe in memory of Jonathan Bunting who died recently aged 26.
We also had Santas from a number of local companies including Ipswich builders Brooks and Wood, staff at the Co-op in Hadleigh and Stowmarket, workers at Halfords in Ransomes Way, Ipswich and Southwold’s LloydsTSB bank.
Hospice supporter Christine Mittell drove around Otley on a moped collecting donations and Julie Hicks and Joanna Brady collected in the towns of Stowmarket and Needham Market.
The Santas progress was tracked throughout the day on the St Elizabeth Hospice facebook page.
The Suffolk Santa that collected the most was Bruce Goudy who collected an amazing £1,000 outside Kesgrave High School and Asda in Goddard Road, Ipswich. Bruce would like to thank Kesgrave High School for allowing him to collect there, all the students who donated so generously and also the staff and shoppers at Asda. Event organiser Rachael Mittell presented Bruce with a festive hamper.
Event organiser Rachael Mittell said: “Thank you to everyone who gave up their time on Friday to support the Hospice. It was such a great success the event will take place again next year. Watch this space for more details about Suffolk Santas 2011.”