With just 7 weekends left till Christmas Day, the Christmas rush is on – and nowhere is this more strongly felt than in Chester, where this year the historic city hosts its 13th annual Santa Dash on Sunday 3 December.
Raising money for two of Chester’s local charities, The Hospice of the Good Shepherd and The Countess Charity, the annual Chester Santa Dash sees hundreds of Santa suit-clad participants taking to the streets of Chester. The Santas follow a 3.2km circuit around the city, passing through Grosvenor Park, the amphitheatre, Eastgate Clock, Chester Cathedral and Chester Town Hall.
This year, Liverpool-based health cash plan provider Medicash is proud to sponsor the highly-anticipated festive event for the second year in a row, having first sponsored the 2022 Santa Dash that saw more than 1,500 runners take on the challenge to raise valuable funds for two of Chester’s best loved charities. This year the Chester Santa Dash event already has 1,526 Santas signed up and event organisers are hopeful to see over 2,000 Santa’s this year.
A respected provider of free-of-charge palliative care across Cheshire West, Chester, and Deeside, the Hospice of the Good Shepherd provides a variety of care and therapy services for patients facing life-limiting illnesses. In addition, their dedicated team offer both patients and their friends, families and carers practical, emotional, and social support in the most difficult times.
Based at the Countess of Chester Hospital, the Countess Charity works with local communities and organisations to raise money for over 80 different funds across Chester’s primary hospital. Working to provide grants to projects that enhance and improve patient care, the Countess Charity aims to provide the best facilities to hospital patients across the city and its wider region.
Angie Lopez, Interim Head of Fundraising for the Countess Charity, said: “Both charities treat and care for our local community when they are sometimes at their lowest point and need our services most, the eagerness to support from the local community and the continued sponsorship from Medicash, is most appreciated and demonstrates the reciprocal relationships that we have with our supporters.”
Andy Abernethy, Head of Marketing at Medicash says of the sponsorship: “With our focus on improving access to great healthcare, the Chester Santa Dash is a cause that’s really close to our hearts. We’re delighted to support this incredible event as the title sponsor once again this year.
“We can’t wait to see the hundreds of Santas getting fit and heading out through the streets of Chester to raise money for these extraordinary charities. As an iconic, family-focused event, the Dash is set to be an unmissable part of the run-up to Christmas.”
The 2023 Chester Santa Dash costs just £20 per person. You can find more details and register for your own Santa Dash through the Roman city at www.chestersantadash.com
Pictured (L-R): Andy Abernethy (Medicash), Angie Lopez (Countess Charity), Emily Goold (Hospice of the Good Shepherd) and Nathan Moore (Medicash)
