Sign up for Springhill Hospice Father Christmas Fun Run

Father Christmas

Springhill Hospice will be holding its third ‘Father Christmas Fun Run’ around Hollingworth Lake on Sunday 7 December. Anyone can take part by running, walking, pushing a pram or walking the dog along the 5km course.

Last year more than 160 people took part, some running alongside their four-legged friends, all dressed as santa to raise £7,100 in aid of Springhill Hospice.

The event is the brainchild of hospice supporter Pearl Benbow, who took part in a similar event in Liverpool in 2005 and coordinated last years first Father Christmas Fun Run for Springhill. Ms Benbow said: “My son, Paul, and I were just two of some 4,000 people who did the Liverpool Santa Run. Besides being good fun it was a great spectacle and I thought that we should now build on the success of the event by maintaining the fun and festive element."

The event commences at 11:00am from Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre and goes around the perimeter path of the Lake.

Free transport is available to and from Hollingworth Lake from outside Rochdale Town Hall from 9am on the day, stopping along the route to both collect and drop-off after the event. All you need to do is stick out your hand and they will pick you up.

Dean Connaughton, Fundraiser for Springhill Hospice, said: “This year we are hoping to not only see again all of those Santas who joined us last year, but lots of new ones too! I should point out that if anybody who did participate last year wishes to do so again, and they have still got the Santa outfit they used, then we are reducing their entry fee to just £5 this year, on the condition of course that they wear their Santa suit! Anybody else who wishes to join us can register for £10 and we will provide them with a Santa suit.”

There is a prize for the top fundraiser supplied by The Star of Bengal on Halifax Road.

Anybody wishing to take part in the event should contact Dean Connaughton at Springhill Hospice Fundraising Office on 01706 649920 to request their registration form.

Places are strictly limited and already going fast, so book your participation as soon as possible.