Don't Look! Santa Speedo Run Streaks Through Midtown

It was a balmy 65 degrees Saturday afternoon for the fourth annual Atlanta Santa Speedo Run as an estimated 300 scantily-dressed runners hit the Midtown streets for a good cause.

Event organizers expected to raise approximately $80,000 for CURE Childhood Cancer, a nonprofit dedicated to conquering childhood cancer through research, education and support.

The course began and ended at Hudson Grille, located at 942 Peachtree Street, and took the holiday festive runners along West Peachtree and Peachtree streets in the heart of Midtown. The fun run passed by such landmarks as The Margret Mitchel House, One Atlantic Center, The Woodruff Arts Center, 1180 Peachtree and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

Runners were required to wear a Speedo or similar attire and encouraged to accessorize with holiday themed flair such as Santa hats, beards, stockings and other festive accents. As these YouTube videos from Tanya Ramakers and Steven Tustin can attest to, they did just that and more!

The Atlanta Santa Speedo Run has raised thousands of dollars for local charities over the years, as past recipients have included: Bert’s Big Adventure, Camp Twin Lakes and CHRIS Kids.

The Santa Speedo Run was originally started in Boston in 2000 by five friends in search of a little holiday fun.

Founded in 1975, Atlanta, Georgia-based CURE Childhood Cancer has raised millions of dollars for research and ongoing education of pediatric cancer and is focused on supporting childhood cancer experts, locally and nationally, who work daily to discover a cure for pediatric cancer.

CURE Childhood Cancer currently funds two pediatric oncology Fellows at the Emory University School of Medicine. CURE Childhood Cancer also offers programs that address the critical/urgent needs of patients and their families. For more information, go to curechildhoodcancer.org.