DEAN LAKE reckons Santa would complete the London leg of his Christmas Eve delivery run in no time at all if he ever decided to trade his magic sleigh for a longboard.

That’s exactly what Dean and his bearded chums did as they stormed the capital’s streets in a red and white Santa Cruise to raise money for the Children’s Heart Foundation.

Dean’s three-year-old daughter Olivia was born with a serious heart condition and was forced into open heart surgery at just seven months.

And to help pay back all the support given by the charity before, during and after Olivia’s operation, Dean decided to organise a 26-mile marathon from London to Windsor.

Dean, 30, of Highclere Road, Knaphill, said: “I’d really like the money to go towards the equipment that lets children get out of the hospital on day releases.

“It would be a nice feeling to know we’ve helped someone get home for Christmas.”

The 17 skaters who took part will raise somewhere between £1,500 and £2,000, and one generous boarder even came down from Sheffield just to play his part.

Dean added: “Some of us had never met before but we instantly gelled and had such a good laugh.

“People were stopping to take photos and videos, and to cheer us on.

“Police and ambulances turned on their sirens as we went past and it was a fantastic atmosphere – we didn’t have any trouble with road users at all.

“I had a few aches and pains the next day but it was worth it.”