Published on: Tuesday 06 Dec 2016 at 10:54
Hundreds of Santas dashed around Harlow!
Hundreds of Santas and Elves came together last weekend (Sunday 4 December) to help raise vital funds for St Clare Hospice over the Christmas period. More than 160 Santa Dashers took part in the 5k festive fundraising event which took place at The Water Gardens in Harlow.
This year’s event was officially started by two young brothers who sadly lost their mother a few weeks before Christmas back in 2013. Archie and Henry Turner have taken part in the Santa Dash event for the past two years in an attempt to raise as much money for the hospice that cared for their mum.
St Clare Director of Income Generation, Cheryl Armitage, said: “The Santa Dash was an absolutely amazing way to kick-start the Christmas season and get the whole of Harlow feeling festive. Once again, the town and our local community came together to show phenomenal support – and the team at St Clare couldn’t feel more grateful. This year’s event has already raised over £3,000 to help fund our care on Christmas Day and with sponsorship still coming in we hope to double this – so that we can make Christmas as special as possible for our patients and families.”
Cheryl said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to each and every person who took part, as well as the volunteers and marshals that helped the event run smoothly. A very special thank you goes to our corporate partners, The Grown up Chocolate Company, who kindly sponsored the event – making our biggest festive fundraiser possible. It really was a great event and definitely one beat for years to come.”
The first people across the finish line were 14 year old identical twins Ben and Sam Sloan who ran the 5k route in just 18 minutes 10 seconds.
Their mother, Melanie Sloan, said: “Ben and Sam are keen runners and are both members of Woodford Green Running Club. They have taken part in the St Clare Santa Dash for a number of years and were happy they could run again this year. It was their birthday yesterday so it is a nice present for them to win the race! Ben pipped Sam to the post but it is good they crossed the line in first and second place.”
Mrs Sloan said: “We are really happy to be able to support St Clare as a fantastic local charity. My mother recently passed away in a care home and I just feel that any charity or organisation who supports people at the end of their life is so well deserving. My own grandmother was cared for by St Clare a number of years ago and the care they provide is invaluable to families.”
