Derry family to take part in 10th annual Santa Cruise fundraiser in London

The Wright family from Drumahoe, Derry will travel to London in December to take part in the 10th annual Santa Cruise which raises money for the Evelina Children's Heart Organisation (ECHO). 

Stephane Wright organised the first ever Santa Cruise 10 years ago after his son Tommy suffered a near fatal heart attack when he was just a baby. Tommy had keyhole surgery at the Evelina Hospital when he was three-years-old.

Now aged 10-years-old, Tommy will join his father Stephane, his mother Karen, and sister Caitlin in the 10th Santa Cruise in London.

Tommy thankfully made a full recovery after his surgery and his father Stephane has expressed his gratitude for the work ECHO has done for his family and others: "We feel so lucky that Tommy survived. I know other families who were on a ward with us whose children didn’t. 

"I want to do everything I can to help ECHO as they do so much to help families going through a tough time."

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ECHO provides a wide range of support to children with heart conditions and their families. This includes parent support, cardiac antenatal classes, hospital equipment and bereavement support.

Stephane and the BMX community have raised over £180,000 for ECHO in the past decade which has had a huge impact on the small charity.

The fundraising event is now organised by volunteers John and Kerry Westbrook, who spend months planning the Santa Cruise and organising raffle prizes.

Chief Executive at ECHO, Samantha Johnson, said: "We are so grateful to John, Kerry, Stephane and and all the wonderful BMX community for their support over the last decade.

"They have raised a phenomenal amount of money, allowing us to support thousands of children with special hearts and their families."

This year the event takes place on Saturday, 14 December where over 800 BMX riders are expected to cruise through Central London in an eight mile bike ride.

The riders will dawn their best festive fancy dress, with lots of Santas, elves, reindeer, snowmen and even the odd Grinch.

The Santa Cruise will start at Leake Street, London Waterloo at 10.30am and eventually stop by the Evelina London Children's Hospital where riders will deliver gifts to children spending Christmas in hospital due to heart conditions.

Byron Gold and the Stratford East Singers will also sing to the children from the balcony of the hospital to get everyone into the festive spirit, while BMXer 'Hot Dog' will compère.

One of the organisers of the event, John Westbrook, said: "When we go to the hospital and see the smiles on the kids faces, all the hard work is worth it.”

Some celebrities from the BMX world will also join the ride, such as World No.2 ranked BMXer Sarah Jane Nichols, Olympic BMX bronze medalist Declan Brooks and elite BMXer Billy Luckhurst.

You can support the amazing cause by visiting the Santa Cruise 10's JustGiving website.