Last call for entries for local hospice, Dorothy House’s 9th annual Santa & Elf Run on Sunday 8th December.
The 2.5k or 5k fun run is open to all ages and will be held at Bath Spa University near Newton St Loe (BA2 9BN). Last year almost 300 runners took part in the fun run and raised over £11,000 of vital funds to support the work of the Hospice and the charity is hoping to exceed this sum in 2019.
Dorothy House’s Santa and Elf Run will be held at the Bath Spa University for the second year and local people are invited to join in the fun and run or walk either the 2.5km or 5km route with adults dressed as Santa and children as Christmas Elves. The race is open to the whole family and will include rural footpaths, a castle, a lake, a garden temple and there’ll be an exciting snow station to run through in the scenic grounds of the university. Dogs are welcome to take part in the fun run. To sign up for the family fun run visit bit.ly/SantaElfRun.
Families, friends and supporters are welcome to cheer the runners on and sprinkle biodegradable snow on them as they pass by. Festive fancy dress is encouraged for all and refreshments will be available to buy at the university refectory so it’s an event for everyone to enjoy.
The fun run starts at 11am on 8th December with registration from 10am and a warm-up session at 10.50am. Entry costs £15 for 12+ years and £7.50 for 2-11 year olds. All 12 + year old participants will receive a Santa suit at registration and 2-11 year olds will receive an elf hat included in their entry fee, plus free refreshments after the run. All runners aged 16 years and under must be accompanied by an adult.
All adult entrants are asked to raise sponsorship or make a donation in lieu of sponsorship to help support patient care at Dorothy House Hospice Care. After the Santa and Elf Run, runners and spectators are invited to nearby Newton Farm Foods shop and café (BA2 9BT) for a ‘Crafts and Carols’ event 11am-3.30pm on 8th December in aid of Dorothy House. Visit www. newtonfarmfoods.co.uk/events for more information.
Steph Millard, sister of Benj Millard of Frome, who died of cancer earlier this year aged 33 years said, “Last year’s Santa & Elf Run was an emotional but amazing day and will always be a very special memory for my family. It meant so much for Benj and our family to see a 40-strong group of friends and supporters taking part in his honour. This year ,Benj’s family and friends are taking part again in his memory and will raise money for the amazing Dorothy House, who cared for him in his precious last few weeks.”
Gary Dowden from Frome said, “My wife Heidi was in Dorothy House for almost five months in 2010 and my over-riding memory is that the care she received was absolutely amazing as she was treated like a person rather than a patient and that everyone, from managers and doctors through to volunteers, made her end of life care as comfortable as possible.
“In addition, this care extended to Heidi’s family and friends, which made such a massive difference to myself, our daughter and Heidi’s family. I will always be grateful for those incredible moments of kindness and it’s one of my motivations for doing the Santa and Elf Run for eight of the last nine years. If it helps other families experience the level of care and comfort, then an hour or so of running is worth every second!”
Dorothy House provides free, palliative and end of life care for people living with a life-limiting illness in Wiltshire, Bath & North East Somerset and Somerset. To sign up for the event visit bit.ly/SantaElfRun. Or for Dorothy House visit www.dorothyhouse.org.uk/events or call 01225 721 480.
