Anyone hiking up Rivington Pike last Saturday may have had to rub their eyes in disbelief after seeing a group of 25 Santas. Tracey McVey, from Bolton , scaled the pike with her mum Pauline Davies and their friends for Pauline’s 80th birthday, which fell the day before on Friday (June 21). Pauline wanted to do something different for her landmark birthday and since she had not been able to complete their annual Christmas hike in December, she decided to get everyone together for a "midsummer" Santa hike.
Tracey said: “We usually do it in December but couldn’t get together and mum turned 80 and I asked what she wanted to do, and she said it would be funny if in midsummer we did the hike. “We asked the walking club and her friends, and it happened, it seemed a bit random and funny. “It was fantastic and it was cool to do it in Santa outfits.
” Pauline said: "It was a wonderful day doing 'Santa Hike the Pike' along with a great group of family and friends raising money for a deserving cause. "I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate an 80th birthday. "Thank you to all who took part or contributed.
" Despite turning 80, Pauline is fit and a regular walker up the pike, going every morning for the "breakfast club" at the Pike Shack. Tracey said: “She is very stoic and amazing, and we were all very impressed she made it up and made it back. “She walks most mornings and started in lockdown going up to the pike shack and back.
“She really wanted to raise money for.
