A REAL-LIFE Santa Claus has been bringing joy to struggling children for years now.
Jordan Gray, from Shafton, does all he can to give back to the community, hosting village-wide clean-ups, weight loss groups and visiting children in hospital dressed as Santa Claus to ‘keep the magic alive’ for them.
His Christmas duties last a lot longer than the other St Nicholas’ though as he plans to begin as early as next month to ensure that children on end-of-life care get to enjoy the festivities.
All of this he does on top of work, and the responsibility of raising his two sons, using his free time to help others.
He told the Chronicle: “I’ve been dressing up for six or seven years now.
“It started when my friend’s kid wasn’t feeling very well, so I went out and got the suit.
“But that’s it really, it’s just grown from there the suit cost a fortune but it’s worth it.”
On top of being a local Father Christmas, Jordan regularly heads out into his community to do anything he can to help others in need.
“I organise community clean-ups and just try to do whatever I can,” he added.
“It’s just what I do I’ll go out and help elderly people in their garden or whoever can’t do it for themselves.
“Life’s too short I just hope that one day if I’m struggling someone will try to help me out too.”
People from his community have put him forward for this year’s Proud of Barnsley, where he has been nominated for the Community Hero award.
“It’s absolutely brilliant to be nominated.
“It’s just great to see what good things people are doing to help out others.
“I feel honoured to be a part of it.”