A SCOTTISH man has been dubbed a real-life Santa Claus after running the eleventh successive Christmas gift appeal in a North Ayrshire town.
Michael Kirkum (below) has run the campaign in Kilwinning for more than a decade, working with local businesses to secure donations and coordinating local collection points for people to drop off items for young children.
This year's event has been dubbed the most successful yet, as Kirkum reached the milestone of giving more than 20,000 gifts to children.
The campaign aims to help support local children, particularly those spending Christmas in hospital, so that they have something to open during the festive season.
For the last 10 years, Michael has run his campaign to help support local children, particularly those spending Christmas in hospital, and for them to have something to open during the festive season.
Donations include chocolate selection boxes, books, board games and soft toys to hand over to Kilmarnock's Crosshouse Hospital and other children's groups.
Kirkum's efforts have seen him be awarded a prestigious Points of Light award by Rishi Sunak, an award given out daily to those who make a change in their community.
Kirkum said he was "deeply humbled" to receive the award, and thanked all those who donated to the gift appeal.
He also runs Easter appeals, completing his twelfth Easter egg appeal earlier this year, and has raised thousands for charity over the last 30 years through his marathon running challenges.
