With the holidays just around the corner, nearly 100 barely covered Santa runners dazzingly paraded the streets of Yorkville last Saturday during the 10th Toronto Santa Speedo Run.

The runners were all wearing an unlikely ensemble amid the winter season: a Santa hat, a pair of running shoes and a Speedo. Some even painted or wrote messages over their exposed bellies. The campaign aims to raise money for the Sick Kid's Toys and Games Fund.

Like Us on Facebook

Accompanied by the silver sleigh bells jingle, Speedo Santas kept bouncing on their feet to fight the cold temperature. Runners claim the weather is more tolerable this year as they expected it to be frosting or snowing. 

Saige Johnston,10, the youngest participant this year, said she does not feel any cold at all. Her mother allowed her to join and flaunt in her red Speedo swimsuit at this time of the year because Johnston herself is a beneficiary of the campaign. She was suffering from hydrocephalus then and got finances from the fund raised by this event.

Without doubt, they were total head turners to bypassers who nonetheless gave them smiles, sneers and second and third look. "It's fun, and it's creating awareness," one of the shoppers who saw the race said.

Event founder Matt Freeman said that this year's drive gathered $31,000, or a total of $319,000 over the last decade.

In other parts of the country, Boston's scantily clad Santa helpers invaded the streets of Back Bay. 

The fund raising event (now on its 16th year) is for the Play Ball Foundation. The organization aims to aid Boston Public School's middle schooler's sports activities. 

Still flashing their Speedo attires, runners took the one-mile race and donated a minimum of $400. 

TagsSanta Speedo Run, Speedo, Toronto, Boston, Yorkville, Back Bay, Sick Kid's Toys and Games Fund, Matt Freeman, Play Ball Foundation, Boston Public School, Marathon, Triathlon, Holiday season, run for a cause, charity event