dan9999
12-09-2009, 01:12 PM
Half-naked Santas run for charity in Hungary
Participants jog in swimsuits in the chill to raise money for cystic fibrosis
msnbc.com staff and news service reports
Tues., Dec . 8, 2009
Image: Great Santa Claus Jogging on St. Nicholas' Day in Budapest
Zsolt Szgetvary / EPA
BUDAPEST, Hungary - Residents of Budapest got to see a whole lot of red — and plenty of skin — during an annual Santa Claus charity run.
About 100 runners wearing nothing but Santa Claus hats and swimsuits jogged for about 1.2 miles through the streets of Hungary’s capital, with temperatures hovering near 40 degrees.
Sunday’s event raised more than $22,000 for a foundation that helps children with cystic fibrosis, according to media reports.
Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here
The Budapest event is said to follow a tradition that began in Boston in December 2000 when five intrepid men wearing nothing but Santa hats, Santa beards and Speedos raced past a crowd of stunned holiday shoppers on Newbury Street.
The Santa Speedo Run now attracts thousands to run through the streets of Boston to raise money for local charities. Similar-themed events have spread to other cities in North America and abroad.
Participants jog in swimsuits in the chill to raise money for cystic fibrosis
msnbc.com staff and news service reports
Tues., Dec . 8, 2009
Image: Great Santa Claus Jogging on St. Nicholas' Day in Budapest
Zsolt Szgetvary / EPA
BUDAPEST, Hungary - Residents of Budapest got to see a whole lot of red — and plenty of skin — during an annual Santa Claus charity run.
About 100 runners wearing nothing but Santa Claus hats and swimsuits jogged for about 1.2 miles through the streets of Hungary’s capital, with temperatures hovering near 40 degrees.
Sunday’s event raised more than $22,000 for a foundation that helps children with cystic fibrosis, according to media reports.
Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here
The Budapest event is said to follow a tradition that began in Boston in December 2000 when five intrepid men wearing nothing but Santa hats, Santa beards and Speedos raced past a crowd of stunned holiday shoppers on Newbury Street.
The Santa Speedo Run now attracts thousands to run through the streets of Boston to raise money for local charities. Similar-themed events have spread to other cities in North America and abroad.