Wanted: Elf to help Santa Claus. Immediate start. 19 December 2025 As job ads go, it’s probably exactly what you might expect to see at this time of year. Only this elf will be riding pillion not on a sleigh pulled by Rudolph and gang but on a mighty Harley Davidson. Driving the bike will be Keith Douglas aka Harley Santa, who has been bringing revs and good vibes to Stonehaven and neighbouring towns and villages for the past five years – and raising thousands for good causes at the same time. This year’s good cause is Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland after the charity provided help and support to Keith and his wife Paula when the self-employed joiner suffered two strokes in just three days in 2023. Keith is usually joined by Paula, Mrs Harley Santa, as his helpful elf for the festive hog-fest, but sadly ill-health means Paula can no longer do the job of handing out an incredible 200 treat bags to local kids while balancing on the back of the bike. Hence Keith’s plea, via Harley Santa’s Facebook page, for a willing volunteer with the – ahem – elf-confidence to climb on board the Harley and put Rudolph in the shade. Paula, who calls Keith by his nickname Joiner, said: “We were inundated with people saying they’d love to be Santa’s elf for the day! It just shows how much local people appreciate what we’ve been doing these last few years.” Keith’s Story Story In 2023, Keith, 55, suffered two strokes within three days. At the same time Paula lost her mum to a heart attack and has since been diagnosed herself with “broken heart syndrome” when emotional or physical stress causes heart palpitations that mimic a heart attack. The couple took to Instagram to explain their choice of Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland for this year’s Harley Santa, thanking the charity for the support they received after Keith’s strokes and for the help given to those with a heart condition. Paula said: “When something like this happens, you’re never the same person again. You become really aware that life is short, and people do need help to recover from these things. “And it’s not only physical help but mental help. Hopefully we will raise money for this good cause because Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland were a huge beacon in our lives. They were such a great help when we really needed them. “I was so worried that I was going to lose Joiner, then my mum died very unexpectedly. The Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland stroke nurse was so supportive and kind just when I needed that most.” Keith added: “It’s been tough, but we’re here and we’re grateful every day that we are still here to live another day. “Not a day goes by where I don’t think about what happened and how lucky I am compared to so many other people. I’ve pretty much fully recovered, but I never take anything for granted now.” The couple began the Harley Santa tradition back in 2020 and have been bringing cheer to Stonehaven and surrounding communities every year since. Support from Stoney and beyond With the help of generous local businesses and individuals, they have around 200 gift bags to give away to local children in the days before Christmas and on Christmas Day itself in Stonehaven. The treat bags will be packed with sweets from Stonehaven’s award-winning ice-cream parlour, Aunty Betty’s and will include mandarins donated from the local Organic Growers’ Association via the Sillyflat farm shop at nearby Inverbervie. Meanwhile, Paula has been overwhelmed by the generosity of her online gardening community on Instagram. One has gathered a mix of seeds, while another has collected sunflowers seeds that will go in the treat bags alongside a coir pot donated by Coir Products UK, all complemented by a hand-stitched felt heart to mark their fundraising efforts for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland. Paula said: “The little treat bags are going to be so lovely. They’re not just full of sugar but something for the kids to get their hands into and watch something grow.” You can donate to the Harley Santa fundraiser here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/keith-douglas-3 If you’re living with the effects of a chest, heart or stroke condition or Long Covid and are looking for advice and information, please contact Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland’s Advice Line on 0808 801 0899. You can also text ADVICE to 66777 or email adviceline@chss.org.uk.