This year’s Westhoughton Rotary Sleigh tour and collection raised the excellent total of £5,281.
The festive generosity of local people will mean that the Club can continue to support local organisations and good causes.
Welcoming the superb total, Bernard Howes, Westhoughton Rotary President, said: “We were delighted that the better than usual weather meant that so many local people were able to come out and meet us when we visited their street. Lots of parents and grandparents brought their mobiles, determined to photograph their children and grandchildren meeting Father Christmas but they didn’t forget that their donations were vitally needed to help local people.
“A big thank you too to all the people who thanked us for our efforts. We enjoy running the sleigh but it makes us really happy to know that people appreciate our voluntary efforts. Most people know that we are volunteers doing our best for the town but we couldn’t succeed without their interest and support.
“We had lots of happy experiences. One night, Father Christmas got down from the sleigh to greet a little lad speeding down the street towards him. He was thrilled when the boy flung his arms around him in delight. It wasn’t just young children who were keen to see him though.
“For a few moments he appeared simultaneously in an American city as a local woman filmed a video selfie with Father Christmas and his sleigh whilst on the phone to a daughter wanting to recapture the visits of her childhood.
“The thousands of coins and many notes make all the difference to our work,” the President added. “They pay for donations to projects arranged by local organisations and charities and helps to defray the costs of our range of community events. This money also means that, once again, we will be able to hold a special Presentation Evening when local charities and support groups will receive cheques designed to improve the lives of local people of all ages.”
Bernard added how much he appreciated all the dedicated work put in by his fellow Rotarians together with members of Westhoughton Inner Wheel and some great friends and supporters of the Club.
“Without their help it really wouldn’t be possible to run such an ambitious programme. “In the past few weeks, we’ve taken part in the lights switch on in Bolton town centre and Farnworth, toured for nine nights throughout the town and collected in Westhoughton at Sainsbury’s and in Market Street.
“As well as thanking our excellent volunteer helpers, I’d like to thank everyone who has helped us in any way especially the managers and staff of Krones, Kia and Sainsbury’s.
“Our Westhoughton Rotary Father Christmas tour is a long established local institution. For some years it has been towed in style by KIA cars. We are especially grateful to KIA at Middlebrook for yet again providing the exclusive use of a brand new KIA car to tow our sleigh.
“A big thank you and very best wishes for 2019 to everyone who has supported us in any way.”