Friends from Peterborough restart Christmas tradition with village Santa sleigh

In Eye, close friends have rebuilt Eye’s Santa sleigh to bring back the Christmas tradition.
Firefighters from Peterborough Volunteer fire service with the re-vamped Eye Christmas Siiegh EMN-211012-200340009Firefighters from Peterborough Volunteer fire service with the re-vamped Eye Christmas Siiegh EMN-211012-200340009
Firefighters from Peterborough Volunteer fire service with the re-vamped Eye Christmas Siiegh EMN-211012-200340009

Residents in Eye used to look forward to their yearly visit from Santa and his sleigh in the run up to Christmas. Then sadly the much-loved tradition stopped for a few years, until Sam Deegan granted everyone’s Christmas wish to bring it back. 
A year in the making, the sleigh will be out in Eye Village and Eye Green over the weekend (Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 December.)
Christmas enthusiasts Sam Deegan and his friends proved that you’ve never too old for Christmas. 
Sam said: “We decided to build one and raise money for a special charity to the village, Elliott’s Army. I put it out there for sponsorship for £100 to help build the sleigh. The response was amazing from the village and businesses who raised £1,500!
“Without the help from everyone this wouldn’t have happened. Hayden Short built what can only be asid as the best sleight I have ever seen, without Hayden I dread to think what it would have looked like! Emma and Alex White have constantly fundraised and planned the maps and lots of things behind the scenes, as well as my dad Ralph Deegan. They gave all their time for free for everyone to enjoy the Santa sleigh.”
The Santa sleigh has been upholstered and kitted out with a fantastic sound system and even a letterbox for children to send their letters to Santa at the North Pole. 
Sam hopes people will give generously towards their chosen charity Elliott’s Army.

Sam said: “Elliott was a 5-year-old boy from the village who sadly died of cancer. Last year they did Elliott’s superheroes and we asked on the Eye Facebook page what charity we should support. The majority was overwhelming to raise funds for Elliot’s Army as it is close to the village’s heart.”

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Elliott’s mum, Andrea Cantrell is so pleased at the village’s support. 
She said: “It is wonderful to see so many people and businesses in the village have contributed to the sleigh. The money raised when the sleigh goes around the village will go in to Elliott’s specially named fun. The fund was set up to help raise much-needed funds to continue research into Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, the extremely rare cancer that Elliott sadly died from. One of Elliott’s favourite time of year was Christmas! He would have been so excited to see the sleigh with Santa on it. Everyone has been amazing and Elliott’s Army thanks you with all our hearts for your continued support.”

Details of the exact sleigh’s timings and routes can be found on the Eye Santa Sleigh Facebook page.

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