CANCER charity, GO Girls, with Weymouth & Portland Lions, were the stars of this year’s Athelhampton Christmas Fair with their Christmas Santa.

The GO Girls teamed up with the Lions to run a highly successful Santa show, as well as using the opportunity to launch the charity’s 2020 year of fundraising with the Lions. “It really was a very special day to see so many awe-inspired children, wowed with the magic of Santa in our sparkly grotto”, said Lynn Billett who supports GO Girls.

Belle, Lynn’s daughter, was the Christmas Fairy, helping Santa give out gifts to each child.

The fair is co-ordinated each year by Dorset Food & Drink and is very popular with the local community, show-casing some of the best in produce from Dorset.

“We were thrilled to be at Athelhampton: it’s the perfect location for a Christmas Fair. The house, with its large open fireplaces and wood panelling, lends itself beautifully to this event and Santa’s grotto twinkled with many lights. We were so warmly welcomed by Mr and Mrs Keating, the new owners of Athelhampton, and their team”, said Hilary Maxwell, Chair of GO Girls – the event’s Christmas Pudding.

Kirstie Wiseman who brought her son Koby added, “It was magical, even if Koby was a little starstruck by Santa, my partner, Kevin, and I loved it: after all, can you ever be to too old for Santa?”

Kevin Brookes, former Mayor of Weymouth & Portland, played the Lion.

“The Lion was magnificent – everyone loves the lion”, said Hilary.

Annette Pitman, GO Girls’ trustee, who recently organised GO Girls’ very successful charity cycle ride to India, played Mrs Claus and Lynn Billett, Christmas Cracker.

Alongside the Santa event the team ran their ‘Name the Reindeer’ competition to win a beautiful Reindeer. Freddie was the winning name, chosen by Beau.

GO Girls who support women with gynaecological cancers and raises awareness of all five gynae cancers is looking forward to returning to the House next year. “Mr and Mrs Keating have kindly invited GO Girls to return next year. We will be there on both Fair days in 2020, bigger and better – we’re already excited”, said Hilary, “as well as looking forward to a fabulous fundraising year with the Lions”.

To help GO Girls reach their next £50,000 target, you can support them at https://www.justgiving.com/gogirlsupport