Santas on the run again

The 16th annual family-orientated Santa Fun Run challenge saw around 300 Father Christmases take part raising money for charity.

Participants were asked to run, jog, walk, roll, stroll or scoot the 5km course, raising money for Aid Reaching Children.

A group of friends, who raised £300 for the charity, got ready for the run with an en masse warm-up of star jumps, running man and stretches with the rest of the Santas before setting off.

‘We’re trying to do it in time to the music,’ said Charlotte Dunsterville.

‘I’d have worn my beard but it gets a little warm and is itchy.

‘In fact really it’s just because she shaved it off this morning,’ added Andrew Sparks.

‘We’re aiming to have a lot of fun and then enjoy the mince pies and mulled wine at the end – it’s what’s keeping us going.’

Participants in the annual fun run were given a medal and refreshments on completing the course, which involved setting off from Pembroke, running along Route Militaire to the Halfway, where they met up with the children who set off from Bulwer Avenue.

They then continued along the seafront into Town and then up the Pollet, ending up in Market Square.

One Santa who could not wait to set off was Richard Southern, who said he was there for the second time.

‘I’ve done it previously,’ he said.

‘It’s great, I’m a little cold at the moment but two minutes running I’ll be all right.

‘I’ve prepared for the weather too with my waterproofs, my Santa outfit alone wouldn’t be much good if it got wet – I bet the real Father Christmas would be prepared too.’

First-time Santa fun-runner Karinna Jonkmans said it was all a bit of fun.

‘It’s about getting into the Christmas spirit and having a good time,’ she said.

‘Plus it’s for charity too.’

Money raised from the event will be used to help local children fighting cancer and helping families with the financial burden that this has on them during treatment in Southampton.