Christmas loving National Lottery winners Elaine and Rob Leason have donned their Santa and elf costumes for charity
Lee McLean/PA Media Assignments(Image: PA)
Elaine and Rob Leason have always been crackers about Christmas. And since winning a £1.4m share of a Lotto jackpot, they’ve been able to spread even more festive cheer for charity, in their favourite elf and Santa costumes.
The couple, from Driffield, struck lucky in July 2005 when Elaine won the seven-figure sum from an £18.2m payout made to her work syndicate at Tesco. One of the Elaine’s first purchases with the winnings was a luxurious Santa suit for Rob the following Christmas, to don as part of their annual charity drive.
The Christmas-loving couple have been supporting local charities for almost 30 years, and since the Lotto win they have been able to give more of their time to charity, stepping into their festive outfits to deliver Christmas presents. The Leasons – whose charity work has also seen them join beach clean-ups in Northumberland and gardening projects at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool – have previously visited schools and organisations across the region, including delivering hampers and presents to the elderly for York Neighbours.
This year, they have visited the Yorkshire Wolds branch of Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) and delivered Christmas gifts to children on their custom sleigh.
Elaine said: “We are delighted to be donating to the Yorkshire Wolds Riding for the Disabled Association this Christmas. The work they do is truly life-changing, boosting mental and physical health, confidence and life skills for so many people.
“We feel so fortunate to be able to dedicate so much of our time to amazing local causes since our National Lottery win and the festive season is always such a highlight for us – we just love Christmas!”
RDA supports more than 39,000 disabled children and adults nationwide through activities including riding, carriage driving and equine-assisted programmes – all designed to boost physical health and mental wellbeing.
Gill Butler, chairperson and coach at Yorkshire Wolds Riding for the Disabled, added: “We’re over the moon to have Santa and his elf spare some time at their busiest time of year to donate gifts and help our service users feel the Christmas spirit. We work throughout the year to put smiles on faces and provide opportunities for young people who have been faced with setbacks, and there’s nobody better to do this than Santa!”
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