Bus-driving South Shields Santa raises Â£2,000 for charity

Kenny Ramsay dressed as Santa on his bus.

Kenny Ramsay spent the festive season aboard his Stagecoach North East bus in a Father Christmas costume in a bid to raise cash for children’s cancer charity, CLIC Sargent.

The 62-year-old, of Heaton Gardens, Whiteleas, dressed up to pull in donations in memory of nine-year-old Jack Leggett, from South Shields, who lost his life to a brain tumour.

Bus driver Kenny Ramsay and Dee Tyler from CLIC Sargent.

Kenny, who has donned a Santa Suit in the name of charity for the last six Christmases, said: “Every year the response from the public is really positive, it’s fantastic.

“Everyone loves Santa Claus and I think it has become a part of the build-up to Christmas in the community.

“It’s just good fun and certainly gives a great atmosphere on the buses. We collected funds for CLIC Sargent as it’s on our doorstep and is popular with the team, after a friend and former employee at the depot tragically lost his grandson to cancer and CLIC Sargent was of great support.”

Thanks to the generosity of passengers, Kenny collected £1,688 on board throughout December.

The company contributed a further £312 to bring the total to £2,000, with a further £155 donated online.

To help boost the collections, staff handed out gifts including sweets and festive novelties to beat last year’s total of £1,320.

CLIC Sargent is the UK’s leading cancer charity for children, young people and their families.

It provides clinical, practical, financial and emotional support to help them cope with cancer and get the most out of life.