A very special little girl started the Inverness Santa Run in aid of a great cause on Saturday.
More than 100 adults and children in bright red suits ran or walked the 1.5 miles round Inverness UHI Campus.
Dream-making for sick children charity When You Wish Upon a Star will benefit from their fundraising efforts through sponsorship sheets and Just Giving pages.
The charity helps children all over Scotland, aged four to 17, who live with a life-threatening illness.
And nine-year-old Amelia-Danni Johnston of Inverness, who had her wish of swimming with dolphins granted in Florida this summer, was the special guest invited to start the race.
Judith King, Scotland regional fundraiser, said: “Amelia loved it. She was delighted at being asked to be a part of it. It was really emotional to watch her and puts things into perspective.”
It was the first time the charity has organised a Santa run in Inverness and following its success, they hope to stage an even bigger event next year.
Ms King said: “We want to build on it. It was a lovely area at the campus.
“We had local food vendors and a lot of volunteers on the day and a lot of companies in the Highlands donated services. It was a big family effort.”
She said the event would help to fund the annual Christmas treat. This is the 29th year they will take families to Lapland to meet Santa.
A private jet has been chartered to take more than 200 people from Prestwick on December 14 for the special trip.