Edinburgh Elf is set to deliver Christmas presents to kids across the capital on her bike

With children across the city unable to go and see Santa this year, an Edinburgh woman has decided to bring Christmas to them as one of Santa’s little helpers.

Lissa McIntyre, 44, from Shandon is dressing up as an elf and delivering presents to kids across the capital to try to spread some Christmas cheer while her regular business has

been put on hold due to coronavirus.

She told the Evening News: “If you can't laugh at yourself at Christmas when can you.”

Lissa McIntyre is delivering Christmas presents across Edinburgh to children who can't go and see Santa.

Lissa started her own company, Joy Rides Edinburgh, offering care home residents the opportunity for a ride outside on her Trishaw, a special type of electric bike built in Copenhagen.

The business was doing well for a year until coronavirus hit. With elderly people too vulnerable to take out, Lissa has now come up with a unique way to get back out on her bike.

She said: “I used to be a youth worker at the Big Project in Edinburgh and I dressed up every year as a little elf, it was a sort of running joke, Lissa Elf.

“So I was chatting to my Mum we thought well why not have Betsy, that’s what my bike is called, take Lissa Elf out to visit kids who can't go and see Santa, bring Christmas to

Lissa McIntyre is delivering Christmas presents to children across Edinburgh in her Trishaw.

them.”

Lissa launched the idea on Facebook on Wednesday night and has been bombarded by parents who want to have Lissa Elf deliver some presents.

She continued: “I'm doing it as a pay what you can type thing so if people want to give me a donation for going to visit them that's fine, but I want everyone to have a chance so i'm

not going to put any kind of funding limit on it.”

In just 24 hours Lissa had over 40 families interested in the service.

She said: “I'm trying to be sensible. Betsy is beautiful but she is not perfectly suited to riding on the roads where you've got cars zipping by you, she takes her time. I'm trying to

make a route plan so that I don't go from Leith to Balerno in a day.

"I'm gathering everyone’s details right now and I'm going to formulate a grand master plan to get out and see everyone.”

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