Santas finally 'Dash or Dawdle' around Hollingworth Lake for Springhill Hospice

Photo: Ken Rowlatt

Hundreds of Santas took to the lake for the postponed Santa Dash or Dawdle

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Springhill Hospice’s annual family festive fundraiser, the Santa Dash or Dawdle, finally took place on Sunday, having been cancelled in December due to poor weather.

Lillie Winterbottom, Hospice Fundraiser, said: “We had a great response from our Santas, who turned their disappointment into positivity by supporting the event last weekend.

“Santas in January is certainly an unusual sight, but people saw the funny side, especially when they realised it was an event in aid of Springhill Hospice.”

Julie Halliwell, Hospice Chief Executive, said: “It is heart-warming to know that the sponsorship raised by Sunday’s 350 Santas will pay for the care of patients at the end of their lives.

“Springhill supporters are second-to-none and we are very proud of them. On Sunday we celebrated, amongst other things, their steadfast support, their willingness to accept change and their fantastic sense of fun.”

Illustrating the lengths that people will go to help out, the fundraising team have heard tell of a few break-away groups of Santas, those who could not make it on the day or who actually walked around the lake in the snow in December.

Springhill Santas even dashed or dawdled in Blackpool and for one supporter, going on holiday did not stop him from joining in - Littleborough resident, Mick Talks had originally planned to take part in the December event. After the event was postponed he realised that he would be on holiday for the rearranged date. Mick simply packed his Santa suit into his suitcase, travelled up to Gretna Green and, to the amusement of the locals, did his Santa Dash or Dawdle there instead.