CancerCare’s annual Santa Dash will be back with a BANG this Christmas as we take the Big Man out 'on tour’ to Lancaster, Morecambe, Kendal and Millom!
The Santa Dash is one of our biggest events of the year which usually sees hundreds of people dressed as Father Christmas enjoy a fun run around Lancaster city centre as part of the Christmas light switch-on festivities.
Last year, we moved the event online due to the coronavirus pandemic but the easing of restrictions means we can once again hit the streets with sacks swaying and beards bobbing!
This year, for the first time EVER we will spreading the Santa Dash around our Morecambe Bay patch with events at:
• Sunday 28 November at 1.30pm – Lancaster city centre. One mile fun run and longer 5km and 10km routes
• Sunday 28 November at 11am – Kendal Leisure Centre. One mile fun run
• Sunday 5 December at 11am - Millom Community Track. One mile fun run
• Sunday 19 December at 11am – Morecambe Promenade. One mile fun run
Organiser Kat Michaels said that as soon as it was confirmed we could organise face-to-face physical events once again, she was determined to make the Santa Dash bigger and better than ever.
Kat said: “The Santa Dash is one of our favourite events because, as well as raising thousands of pounds, the sight of so many people running around, having fun dressed as Father Xmas does a fantastic job raising awareness about the work we do.
“This year we will be doing it on an even bigger scale with events across all of the areas we serve and it will be wonderful to see everyone out with their families having fun this Christmas. I am particularly excited about the runs in Morecambe and Millom as they are completely areas for us.”
The events in Morecambe, Kendal and Millom runs will be short family fun runs while the Lancaster Dash will feature longer 5k and 10k routes to provide a more competitive edge for more serious runners.
Last year’s Virtual Santa Dash raised more than £14,000 and this year we are hoping to do even better.
Chief Executive Alison Stainthorpe said: “It has been a tough year for everyone and we are experiencing a huge surge in demand for our services. The pandemic has curtailed our fundraising activities over the last year but I’m overjoyed to see our Santa Dash not only return but expand across the Morecambe Bay area.
“It costs us around £142,000 a month to operate our centres and we rely on public donations for the vast majority of the money we need to keep going. The community has always really got behind Santa Dash, and I’m sure they will again this year.”