In brief: Jersey Hospice Care’s Santa Dash returns on 3 December with a new route through the heart of St Helier, starting and finishing at West’s Centre. Hundreds of participants in Santa suits are expected to run, jog, scoot or walk the approximately one-mile course along King Street and around Broad Street.
Ho Ho Ho Down King Street
If you happen to be in St Helier on Thursday 3 December and find yourself surrounded by hundreds of Father Christmases jogging past the shops, do not be alarmed. Jersey Hospice Care’s annual Santa Dash is back, and this year it has a shiny new route through the town centre to spread a little festive chaos, in the best possible sense.
Participants will set off from West’s Centre at midday, making their way along King Street and around Broad Street before returning to the starting point. The course covers approximately one mile, and the emphasis is firmly on participation rather than competition. Running, jogging, scooting and walking are all equally welcome, which is reassuring news for those of us who have perhaps not been keeping up with our training since last Christmas.
At the finish line, participants will be rewarded with mince pies and medals, which, frankly, sounds like an entirely reasonable return on a mile’s worth of effort in a Santa suit.
A New Route, A Bigger Buzz
The decision to bring the event through the town centre is a deliberate one. Marina Brockbank, from Jersey Hospice Care, said the new route was designed to bring the festive atmosphere into the heart of town. “We’re really excited about the new route for this year’s Santa Dash. By bringing the event through the heart of town, we hope it creates an even bigger festive atmosphere and allows more people to join in the fun,” she said.
“There’s something truly special about seeing hundreds of Santas running through King Street, spreading Christmas cheer while supporting Jersey Hospice Care,” she added.
A Santa suit is included as part of the registration fee, though participants are welcome to arrive in their own festive fancy dress if they feel the standard-issue suit does not adequately reflect their personal brand of yuletide enthusiasm.
Ogier Back for a Third Year
The event is being sponsored by Ogier for the third consecutive year, a commitment that speaks well of the firm’s appetite for dressing up in red and white. Nicola Carroll, from Ogier’s Corporate Social Responsibility team, said: “We’re delighted to continue supporting Jersey Hospice Care’s Santa Dash. It’s become a real festive favourite with our colleagues, and we’re looking forward to getting suited and booted once again and joining hundreds of Santas through the heart of St Helier.”
Carroll added that beyond the fun, the event serves a serious purpose: “Most importantly, it’s a brilliant way to have some festive fun while raising vital funds for Jersey’s only hospice.”
Jersey Hospice Care is indeed the island’s only hospice, providing palliative and end-of-life care to islanders and their families. Events like the Santa Dash form an important part of its fundraising calendar.
Source: Jersey Evening Post
