Over 230 Santas and reindeer gathered for a wintry Santa Fun Run on Sunday 3rd December, to raise money for local charity Phyllis Tuckwell.
The run took place at the Wavell School in Farnborough, with adults, children, toddlers and dogs all joining in the festive fun, walking, jogging or running the 5k route of two laps around Queen’s Avenue playing fields. ‘Powerhoop with Hannah’ returned this year too, bringing their own hula hoops with them and hula-hooping their way round!
“It was amazing to see so many wonderful fundraisers coming along to raise money for us this festive season,” said Fiona Chapman, Events Fundraiser at Phyllis Tuckwell. “This year is the 20th anniversary of our Santa Fun Run, and it was the perfect celebration of this milestone event! We would like to thank our sponsors: Hi-Speed Services Ltd, Vale Furnishers and P&W Insurance Group, and everyone from each of these companies who took part in the run. A huge thanks also to our fabulous volunteers who helped with car parking, registration, marshalling and handing out medals, Dave Porter and the Blackwater Valley Runners, Paul Fitchett from Paul Fitchett images, Richard Wyeth from Yaketyak Productions, the brilliant team at Wavell school, everyone who took part and all those who sponsored them.”
When the first Santa Fun Run was organised 20 years ago, it was set up by Graham Brookland and his colleagues who worked in the Fundraising team at Phyllis Tuckwell at that time. Graham celebrated the 20th anniversary by taking part, together with Hi Speed’s Managing Director Ian Dawkins, and Aldershot football club legend Nicky Bull, both of whom also took part in first Santa Fun Run. It was brilliant to see them all back together again and taking part to support Phyllis Tuckwell! Also back for the 20th year was Richard Wyeth from Yaketyak Productions providing the sound and audio for the event, as he still does every year.
If you would like to find out about how you can help support local hospice care this Christmas, visit www.pth.org.uk/support-us