CORONAVIRUS will not prevent Father Christmas bringing joy to youngsters in Leigh and Lowton for this festive season.
The Rotary Club of Leigh are determined to bring some joy to children and parents this Christmas.
Father Christmas has already asked if Rotarians can help him out by towing the Sleigh around the streets of Leigh and Lowton, like they do every year.
Rotary President John Bullough said to the Journal: “With everything that we have all gone through this year, children and their parents deserve to have an enjoyable Christmas. Unless there is a big change in the lockdown rules, we will be taking Santa and his Sleigh at a slow speed around the streets – but – unfortunately, we will not be able to stop for a chat or photo with Santa.
"Also, we will not be able to visit supermarkets or Bents and cannot have a collection, which means that we will be missing the £12,000 or more that we usually collect.
"Every penny goes to good causes so this will be disastrous for the charitable donations we give out every year."
A Just Giving Page has been set up and people can donate at: justgiving.com/campaign/sleigh or by using their mobile phone and texting LEIGHSANTA plus the amount they want to give, to 70460. For example, to give £2, text LEIGHSANTA 2 to 70460. The donation sites can also be accessed on the Leigh Rotary Website or Facebook page.
The list below shows the general areas Santa will visit. A more detailed list of individual streets can be found on leigh.rotary1285.org or on Facebook - look up Rotary Club of Leigh.
People are asked not to approach the sleigh and not to gather in groups.
Santa will start each evening at 6.30 pm. at the following:
3rd Dec Thur Chapel St & Manchester Rd Areas
4th Dec Fri Wigan Rd North & Nel Pan Lane Areas
7th Dec Mon The Avenue & Holden Rd Areas
8th Dec Tue Pennington South & Hayman Estate
9th Dec Wed Firs Lane, Plank Lane & Wigan Rd South
10th Dec Thur Lowton - Newton Rd Areas
11th Dec Fri Higher Folds
14th Dec Mon Lowton – St Helens Rd Areas
15th Dec Tue Town Centre – Orchard St / Railway Rd
16th Dec Wed Pennington North – Bonneywell / Diamond St
17th Dec Thur Warrington Rd Areas
18th Dec Fri Westleigh – Abbey Lane / Westbourne Ave
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