Almost 1,400 people took part in the Santa Dash fundraiser to show their support for the ‘Baby grow appeal’ at the Countess of Chester Hospital and ‘Hospice of the good shepherd charity.’
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Santa's gearing up to start the dash (pic: Countess of Chester fundraising team)[/caption]In total the two previous dashes have raised just under £80,000 and organisers hope to increase this sum significantly when calculations of this year’s dash are confirmed in January.
Proceeding from this year’s dash will contribute to the £3 million appeal to build a new neonatal unit more than double the size of what the hospital currently has for better facilities and more privacy for the patients and families.
The 3k run started at the Riverside Innovation centre and made its way around to the finish line at The groves near the well-known restaurant, Hickory’s.
Ricky Challinor from the Doubletree by Hilton Chester team won the race in just 10 minutes and 10 seconds, whilst others strolled around taking up to half an hour or more.
Mr Challinor is a regular runner; he has represented GB in mountain running and completed the Chester half marathon last year.
As well as serious runners the event attracted various participants from babies being pushed around in buggies to older members with walking sticks.
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Participants pushing themselves to get through the last stretch of the course (pic: Eddie Evans, Flickr)[/caption]Kathy Kenney, events fundraiser at the Countess of Chester is very pleased with the success of the fundraiser, she said: “We are trying to encourage people to send in all of the fundraising money to us as soon as possible, every penny is very important to us.
“Like last year we have a competition for those who have managed to raise over £50 and pay it in by January. Those people will be entered into a draw for the chance to win £750 of wining, dining and shopping vouchers.”
Links to Charities:
http://www.hospiceofthegoodshepherd.com/
http://www.coch.nhs.uk/fundraising/babygrow-appeal.aspx
Chester Intelligencer reporter, Lisa Jones
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