Santa Fun Run is back in town at beautiful Bushy Park on 8 December and Sandown Park Racecourse on 15 December!
Santa Fun Run is an annual festive 5k when family and friends (including the four-legged variety) gather in a sea of Santa suits to raise crucial funds for Princess Alice Hospice: whether you run, walk, wheel or skip, taking part is all that matters.
After a santastic success at its Sandown Park debut last year, Santa Fun Runners and their santapaws will once again take to the grounds in a flurry of festive cheer. Afterwards, a Traditional Christmas Market and Craft Fair will give children the chance to meet Santa in his grotto!
Santa Fun Run is an important and poignant event for many of those running in memory of a loved one. Becky is running in memory of her late husband, Tim, with dozens of their family and friends.
When Tim’s family brought him into Princess Alice Hospice for respite care in winter 2023, he noticed we were promoting our annual Santa Fun Run fundraising event. Becky remembers how he wanted to find a way to thank the Hospice for the care he was receiving, so they gathered a team of friends and family together to take part.
On the day of the run itself, Tim was too unwell to participate. Instead, he stood at the finishing line and took photos of friends and family as they completed the run. Becky treasures the group photo that was taken with Tim that day.
This year, a bigger Team Tim will be taking part in Santa Fun Run in Tim’s memory. Becky wants to fundraise for the Hospice because she knows it was Tim’s wish and knows it meant a lot to him. Team Tim comprises of his two boys, all his three siblings, other family members young and old, members of Tim’s cycling group, friends and some four-legged runners, too.
Becky says: ‘’We saw the amazing care Tim received and this is our way of thanking the Hospice. The atmosphere last year was very warm. We want to continue to help. On the day that Tim died, I found out later that four other people died under the Hospice’s care that day. I realised it wasn’t just us going through something so difficult, we need help to allow the Hospice to continue to care for other families like us.’’
After Tim died, his two boys were supported by the Hospice’s family social worker, Helen, which Becky says has ‘really helped.’
Santa Fun Run raises vital funds to help support families like Becky’s. Every single penny donated and fundraised will make a direct impact on care this Christmas and beyond. So, come and get your festive fun off to the perfect start, while embracing the season of goodwill, too.
Whether it’s at Bushy or Sandown, we can’t wait to see you there to raise festive cheer and funds for your local Hospice this Christmas. Sign up for festive fun here: www.pah.org.uk/santafunrun!
Princess Alice Hospice: For Compassion. For Excellence. For People. For Living.
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For nearly 40 years, Princess Alice Hospice has provided free, high-quality, specialist end-of-life care to tens of thousands of people across a large part of Surrey, south west London and Middlesex. Today, Hospice nurses, doctors and other specialist staff are looking after over 1000 patients at any one time, in their homes or on the In-Patient Unit.
The Hospice’s mission is to reach even more people by delivering outstanding care to those who need it. To enable us to do this, we rely on the commitment and kind support of our communities who help us to raise vital funds.
Each year, it costs £11.5 million to provide our vital services. With just 20% of NHS funding provided, the remaining 80% is raised through legacies, fundraising, selling pre-loved items in our shops, and investments. It is the amazing support of our generous supporters and dedicated volunteers that allows our work to continue.
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