Thousands of festive fundraisers dressed as Father Christmas to turn Southport red on Sunday (1st December) as they ran, walked and paddled in the annual Southport Santa Sprint for Queenscourt Hospice.
Santas met at Silcock’s Pier Family Restaurant on the Promenade and enjoyed free rides on Silcock’s Carousel before a warm-up led by event hosts Hayley Murray and Ian Lawson.
Father Christmas made a welcome appearance to meet excited children ahead of the forthcoming Breakfast With Santa events starting later this week.
On the Marine Lake, several paddle boarders from SUP North wore festive fancy dress as they raised funds for Queenscourt and cheered on the runners as they completed either a 3k or a 5k route.
The Santa Sprint has become one of Southport’s most popular dog walking events, and lots of people were taking their dogs around the course with them.
They included Tracy Hall, dressed as Cruella De Vil, as she walked with her two Dalmatians.
The Santa Sprint was once again sponsored by Silcock Leisure Group, for the 15th year, as Silcock Leisure Group Operations Manager Serena Silcock-Prince presented a £2,000 cheque to Dianne Gillespie from Queenscourt Hospice before the race began.
Once the run was complete, participants headed back to Silcock’s Pier Family Restaurant for free tea and coffee, and to The Grand on Lord Street for free hot drinks and cake.
Serena Silcock-Prince said: “The Southport Santa sprint was such a wonderful event!
“It was a brilliant turnout and the weather was definitely on our side.
“The team from Queenscourt Hospice who organised the event, including Liz Hartley and Dianne Gillespie, were brilliant.
“There was such a lovely atmosphere on the day.
“There were lots of familiar faces, people I see coming back to take part every year, and lots of new faces too.
“Some people were very creative with their costumes, including Tracy Hall coming as Cruella De Vil with her two Dalmatians!
“It’s fantastic to see so many Santas riding on our Carousel, it’s one of the highlights of the year for us.
“Queenscourt Hospice is such a superb local charity. We are always delighted to do all we can to support them, both as Silcock Leisure Group, and as a family.
“It’s a really powerful community event and really heralds the start of the Christmas season at ‘Festive Funland’. We have gone all out this year.
“We are starting our Breakfast With Santa events this Friday (6th December 2024); we have our Christmas tree and Santa’s sleigh inside Silcock’s Pier Restaurant as part of the Southport Gingerbread Trail; and Funland is looking very festive, with our Christmas Prize Shop inside.
“We are looking forward to welcoming lots of families this December.”
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