Seriously ill children to be given bedside zoom calls from Santa this Christmas

Santa is embracing lockdown technology to speak directly to seriously ill children in the run-up to Christmas – thanks to a Sunderland charity.
Red Sky SantaRed Sky Santa
Red Sky Santa

While his elves are hard at work making gifts for children across the globe, Santa Claus has been mastering video conferencing.

And now, thanks to a North East charity, the man in red will be talking to youngsters who are in the heart unit at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital – with the opportunity for other children to call him up and tell him face to face what they would like to find in their stockings next month.

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Red Sky Santa has been launched by Sunderland charity, The Red Sky Foundation, which raises money to buy vital equipment for the Freeman along with funding a campaign to install defibrillators in towns and cities across the North East.

Via Red Sky Santa, children in the hospital will be able to enjoy a live video call with Father Christmas, telling him about themselves and what gifts they would like.

The Foundation is also offering this opportunity to other families at a small cost, with a proportion of the money going directly to the charity.

Families can choose from either a live, 10-minute video call with their child or a five-minute long, pre-recorded message, which can be fully personalised at the point of booking and money raised will go directly to the charity, launched in 2016 by Sergio Petrucci and his wife Emma.

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Initially intended to be a one-off fund-raising event to thank the hospital unit which saved their daughter’s life, the Red Sky Foundation has gone from strength to strength.

“Children are absolutely at the heart of everything we do,” said Sergio, “and that is why we are thrilled to be collaborating with Santa Claus this Christmas.

“Like a lot of grown-ups this year, he’s had to get to grips with face to face messaging, but he’s got the hang of it and now he can’t wait to chat to North East youngsters.”

The live video chat is priced at £25 and the video postcard, pre-recorded message is £15, for up to two children.

For more information, or to book, visit www.redskysanta.com

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