Father Christmas fever hit the streets of Madrid today with the traditional Santa run.

A sea of bearded and behatted Santas laced up their running shoes and pounded the streets for a good cause.

Last year funds were raised for the victims of the volcano eruptions in La Palma on the Canary Islands, but this year there was a different focus: funds raised for the Red Cross and children in need

“There will be over 6,000 people all dressed as Father Christmas, and the kids as elves,” Javier Gavela, the event's Technical Director, told CGTN.

“It's a party of sport, a Christmas party that's also a charity run, it's already brought in over 6,000 euros for the Red Cross, so that children who might go without otherwise can enjoy playing with some toys this Christmas.”

One in three children at risk of poverty in Spain

One in three children in Spain are at risk of poverty or social exclusion and with soaring inflation leading to high food and energy prices, many families are struggling. 

Running 4.5 kilometres down Madrid's iconic Castellana street, runners, walkers, and even crawlers came out in force to contribute and to mark the beginning of the holiday period. 

And despite the cold, spirits were high and the run went off without a problem. 

“We are celebrating the beginning of Christmas”

“This run was super fun,” one smiling Santa told CGTN.

“It was short, it's not difficult and we are celebrating the beginning of Christmas and I wish you a very merry Christmas!”

“Incredible, the Christmas atmosphere, it was a dream for me,” said another reveller from Australia. 

There was a surprise too as the women's race winner came home first even though she was racing and pushing her child in a pram!

This family day out has become a fixture on the Christmas calendar in Madrid, and organisers said numbers were up by 1,500 people on last year, with 8,000 participants expected next year. 

With the help of the Red Cross, the money raised will be used to help children and adolescents at risk of social exclusion while also helping to give children in struggling families a gift this holiday season.

The hope is that children in disadvantaged homes won't have to go without thanks to the generosity of the many Santas for-a-day.