Claire House Children’s Hospice has been named official charity partner for this year’s BTR Santa Dash

Claire House Children’s Hospice has been announced as the official charity partner for the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash 2019.

Highly regarded as the city’s kick-start to Christmas, this year’s festive 5K fun run takes place on Sunday 1 December 2019 starting at 9.30am from Pier Head Liverpool.

Each year, Liverpool is transformed into a sea of red, blue and mini Santas enjoying the inclusive festive experience. The accessible event is open to everyone, and each year attracts thousands of walkers, joggers and runners.

The BTR Liverpool Santa Dash 2019 is the event’s 16^th consecutive year and it is now the UK’s biggest festive 5K fun run.

With bases in Wirral and Liverpool, Claire House Children’s Hospice is inviting Santas to dash on their behalf to help raise vital funds at a time the charity is facing increased demand for its vital support and services. The announcement coincides with the launch of the charity’s very own festive fundraising campaign.

Claire House helps seriously ill and terminally ill children live life to the full by creating wonderful experiences and bringing back a sense of normality to family life. By providing specialist nursing care and emotional support, the charity strives to help families smile again when life is tough.

Over the past six years, the charity has seen an 84% increase in the number of children using the hospice – and therefore needs to increase the care it can offer families in their homes, help more children at its Wirral hospice, and increase the services it can offer in Liverpool.

Laura Fallon, Running & Challenge Fundraiser, at Claire House, said:

“We are absolutely thrilled to be the official charity partner for this year’s BTR Liverpool Santa Dash. This is always an amazing event, which really gets everyone in the festive spirit. Everyone who chooses to run for Claire House will help us to make Christmas easier for families facing the toughest of times.

“We’re inviting everyone to do something important this Christmas by joining our team at the Liverpool Santa Dash. If you pledge to raise at least £60 for Claire House you can sign up for free – our fundraising participants will also be invited to join us at our Santa Dash Breakfast After Party.

“Our volunteers and families are looking forward to cheering on our Santas as they cross the finish line on 1 December, while our mascot Claire Bear can’t wait to officially start the Mini Dash.”

An exciting 5K route will take Santas from Pier Head Liverpool, through the Royal Albert Dock Liverpool estate, and round Liverpool city centre. They will cross the finish line outside Liverpool Town Hall, where they will be greeted by stilt walking characters and ‘real’ snow, before collecting their commemorative Santa Dash finishers’ medal.

Last year’s BTR Liverpool Santa Dash attracted 7,000 Santas, including participants from France, Gibraltar, Norway, Switzerland and the United States of America.

First staged in 2004, the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash was created by BTR Liverpool Race Director Alan Rothwell.

BTR Liverpool is the leading independent organisation for creating, managing and delivering headline race events across Liverpool City Region.

Its portfolio also includes the long established BTR Liverpool Half Marathon which marks its 27th consecutive year in March 2020; Port Sunlight Road Race 5K and 10K; BTR Mersey Tunnel 10K; and the 52-mile BTR Tour Of Merseyside.

BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell commented: “We’re delighted to once again be supporting the work of Claire House Children’s Hospice. The support they offer at their bases in Wirral and Liverpool, as well as in the wider community, is vital for families when they need help the most.

“Claire House volunteers can often be seen at BTR events manning water stations or greeting runners with their medals as they cross the finish line, we’re very grateful for their continued support.”

To join the Claire House team at this year’s BTR Liverpool Santa Dash telephone 0151 343 0883, email events@clairehouse.org.uk or visit www.clairehouse.org.uk for more details.

You can find out more about this year’s BTR Liverpool Santa Dash here.