Shoppers dig deep for Santa’s cause

Festive spenders made it a new year to remember for local charities after his appearance helped raise coffers for local causes!

Santa spent Saturdays at Houndshill Shopping Centre in the run-up to the big day with kind-hearted shoppers digging deep to raise £2,400 for three main local charities through its association with Rotary Blackpool South.

The charities – North West Air Ambulance, the RNLI Blackpool and North West Blood Bikes Lancashire – will each receive £600, while other local causes will also benefit from a further £600.

Houndshill became a winter wonderland last month with Santa and his elves taking up residence in a grotto following a sweet-laden sleigh ride around Blackpool town centre in an event arranged by the shopping centre, Radio Wave and Blackpool Business Improvement District.

Children were given the chance to post their letters to the North Pole while shoppers took part in a number of festive activities, as well as getting their Christmas shopping in and raising money for good causes.

This is the first year Houndshill has worked with Rotary Blackpool South to raise awareness of local causes and put something back into the community.

Jeffrey Meadows, president of Rotary South Blackpool, said: “This very big-hearted offer from the Houndshill to give the Rotarians and our friends the opportunity to collect £2,400 for our three main charities.

“It was a great parade through the centre of Blackpool and this is a great example of the Rotary working with business for the benefit of others. We would like to thank everyone who helped in any way to make this the success it was.”

Debbs Lancelott, manager of Houndshill Shopping Centre, said: “We are always delighted to work with the Rotary and event was such a huge success again. “It’s always a pleasure to put something back into the community and we cannot think of more worthwhile causes which do so much good for the local area.”