The countdown to Christmas has officially begun with Pilgrims Hospices Santas on the Run! Tri-Series
Hundreds of festive fundraisers embraced the ho, ho, holiday spirit on Sunday 27 November 2022 as they dashed along Herne Bay seafront at Santas on the Bay! all for a good Claus.
Herne Bay was filled with Christmas cheer as more than 400 honorary Santas and elves ran, jogged, skipped and walked their way along the 3k or 5k route in support of Pilgrims Hospices, who care for thousands of local people each year who are living with an incurable illness.
The event is supported by a number of local companies and schools, including Wahl. Grace Gummer from the Herne Bay-based company told us: “We love supporting this fantastic festive event for such a deserving local charity. It brings the community together and raises money in aid of the great care that Pilgrims Hospices offer families at such a difficult time.”
Early estimations show that this year, Santas on the Run! Tri-Series will raise in excess of £20,000. This could help fund the entire cost of Pilgrims Hospices’ community care teams for four days, as they provide specialist end-of-life care to patients spending Christmas at home with their families, and creating lasting memories.
Leila Ilkhan, Community Fundraising Manager, said: “We were delighted to welcome hundreds of supporters to Herne Bay seafront, who donned their Santa and elf costumes to kick-start the festive season. The wet weather couldn’t dampen our Christmas spirits as onlookers cheered our supporters across the festive finish line. Thank you to everyone taking part who raised vital funds so we can continue delivering specialist end-of-life care to those who need us across east Kent.”
Since the event began in 2017, Santas on the Run! has become a family tradition in the seaside town as a way to celebrate the countdown to Christmas, and has gone on to raise over £161,000 for local hospice care. In 2019, the event added fun runs in Folkestone and Margate to create the Santas on the Run! Tri-Series, bringing the jolliest jog of the year to seafronts across east Kent.
Click here to view more photos from the day on the Pilgrims Hospices Facebook page.
There’s still time to have your ‘elf’ a merry day out with friends, family and colleagues by registering on the day at Santas on the Harbour! in Folkestone on Sunday 4 December, or registering in advance for Santas on the Seashore! on Sunday 11 December.
Find out more at: www.pilgrimshospices.org/santa
Merry Christmas!
