site.btaDeputy Mayor of Veliko Tarnovo to Dress Up as Santa Claus and Lead Motorcyclists for Charity

For the first time, a current deputy mayor of Veliko Tarnovo will don a Santa Claus costume and lead a column of hundreds of motorcyclists from all over the country, dressed up in festive attire, for charity. The procession will pass through the city on December 25, and the final destination will be the town of Debelets, where for the first year there will be a concert with the participation of talented children from the region, Veliko Tarnovo Deputy Mayor Georgi Nedev told BTA.
The Moto Christmas initiative, which has been taking place since 2012 on Christmas, December 25, recalled Nedev, who joined 8 years ago and is gradually making it more charity-focused. 

Since his involvement, Nedev has added many improvements to the procession, such as a sleigh for Santa Claus and Snow White, and later Christmas buses to transport children (and this year, also adults) . In addition to Christmas, the bikers also started touring on Christmas Eve, visiting the children of their friends, whose parents donated money to the respective cause. Last year, for the first time, the procession ended in Debelets, where a motorcycle show and catering were organized, which will also happen this year. 

Nedev said that over the years, the number of participants in Moto Christmas has increased. Last year, there were 640, and the amount they raised for charity was a record. Every year, thousands of BGN are donated to people in need through the initiative. This year, donations will go towards a new playground and/or equipment for children with disabilities.

In order to raise as much money for charity as possible, this year, a raffle with prizes will be held during the concert in Debelets. The grand prize is a Suzuki GSX 550E motorcycle, manufactured in 1988. It was provided by donors from the village of Prisovo in Veliko Tarnovo, who wished to remain anonymous.

The Veliko Tarnovo Deputy Mayor expressed his joy that most of the city's residents and guests approve of the Moto Christmas initiative, as well as his satisfaction that it has managed to "infect" other bikers in Bulgaria who have also begun to organize similar charity events.