SANTA Claus is coming to town … in fact hundreds of them are as Stafford gears up for the second annual retailers’ charity dash.
People all over the borough are being urged to sign up to the Santa Dash on Sunday, November 25, a mile-long race around the town centre to raise money for Katharine House Hospice and the Hibbs Lupus Trust.
Budding Father Christmases of all ages will be kitted out in traditional Santa garb by the Stafford Town Centre Partnership (TCP) and every jolly old St Nick that takes part will earn a special medal.
TCP chair Chris Lewis called last year’s inaugural race a “great spectacle”, with around 300 Santas taking part and said he was expecting this year to be bigger and better.
“It’s great fun,” he said. “Loads of wannabe Santas dashing around the centre and raising plenty of money for worthy charities.”
The dash, organised by the TCP and the borough council, will take place the weekend after the busy Santa Parade and the Christmas lights switch-on in the Market Square, with the Santas se to be put through their in a pre-race warm up by fitness instructor Mary Christmas.
Councillor Mike Smith, cabinet member for leisure at the borough council, said: “This will definitely get some of those Santas in shape for the big day with a couple of laps around the town centre.
“I hope there will be loads of people out to cheer them on along the way before our Santas get down to the hard work of delivering presents.”
The race starts at 12.30pm with suit collection and registration between 11am and midday.
The entry fee in advance will be £10 for an adult and £7 for children between six and 12, with a £3 fee for youngsters under six and an extra £1 to sign up on the day.
Every entrant will get a Father Christmas jacket, trousers and hat - with grown ups also receiving a beard and a belt.
To enter, download a form from www.staffordbc.gov.uk/santadash or collect one from the Civic Centre, Stafford or the town’s Gatehouse Theatre, returning it with a cheque payable to Stafford Borough Council, at Santa Dash Entry, Leisure and Culture, Stafford Borough Council, Civic Centre, Riverside, Stafford ST16 3AQ.
