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Contact Details

holiday@torbay.gov.uk
Tel: 01803 211 211

The Great English Riviera Santa Run

"You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I'm telling you why, because Santa Claus (and 1000's of friends) are coming to town"

On Sunday 9 December 2007, you are invited to take part in the biggest seasonal charity event to ever take place on the English Riviera. Forget the running of the bulls in Pamplona - we will be having the running of the Santa's in Torquay!

The Great British Riviera Santa Run is open to absolutely everyone and will see 1000s of people dressed in Santa suits running/walking/skipping along the seafront of Torquay, raising money for charity. The course is a relaxed and fun 2km (1.2 miles), making the event accessible to just about everyone.

The Great English Riviera Santa Run will start at 11am at Torre Abbey Meadows and take entrants along Torbay Road and the seafront in the direction of the harbour. Santa's will then go around the roundabout near the Pavilion and back to Torre Abbey, where seasonal refreshments and mince pies will be available for all you fatigued Father Christmas's.

"When You Wish Upon A Star" is a fantastic charity that makes dreams come true for children with life-threatening illnesses from around the UK, including the west country. An annual highlight is taking poorly children to Lapland to meet the real Santa.

A spokesperson from the charity told us: "When You Wish Upon A Star" are delighted to have been invited by the English Riviera Tourist Board to hold The Santa Run in Torbay. Withthe support from the people of the English Riviera, we can make this an amazing success and enable "When You Wish Upon A Star" to grant even more 'Wishes' forthe poorlychildren. We look forward to seeing you all on the day

Three Santa Runs are organised in the North of the country in Nottingham, Leicester and Edinburgh, but this is the first ever Santa Run to take place in the south west. And that's where we need your help.

We want to encourage as many people to enter as possible. You can enter as an individual or as a family, or why not encourage your friends, workmates, sports teams, church congregation, scout group, drinking buddies - in fact, anyone you can think of to enter. The police and the Board of Directors at Torquay United have already kindly pledged their support, as have the team at Palm FM.

It's really straightforward. It costs just £10 for adults (over 15) to enter, which includes your Santa suit and a medal at the end. Santa's Little Helpers (under 15) can also take part. For just £5 entry, they get a Christmas hat to run in, while each child will also receive a special medal sent by Santa, when they complete the run. All profits are going to "When You Wish Upon A Star."

In order to help us raise the maximum of money to help poorly children, we also request that entrants raise a few more pounds through sponsorship. The majority of the entrance fee is also being donated to charity (£6.50) after the costs of suits & medals, meaning that with a little bit of sponsorship from quite a few Santa's, we can help raise an awful lot of money for this worthwhile cause.

There are several ways to enter. Visit www.englishriviera.co.uk and click on the Santa Run link in the top right to enter online, or why not download an entry form and drop it into the Tourist Information Centre along with a cheque. Entry forms are also available in the Herald Express and also from the Tourist Information Centres. In addition, you can enter directly and pay with a credit/debit card on the "When You Wish Upon A Star" charity website at www.thesantarun.org.uk.

You will receive your confirmation and entry vouchers by post and will then be able to collect your Santa Suit or Elves Hat at Torre Abbey Meadows on the morning of the run. Palm FM are supporting the run and will warming up runners with a roadshow at the start of the event, as well as providing musical entertainment at the finish.

Aviva Pearson, Director of Tourism said: "We are so excited that a Santa Run is coming to Torquay and we really need your help to make this event huge and a central part of the seasonal celebrations on the English Riviera. We would love to break the record for the most entrants at The Santa Run organised by "When You Wish Upon A Star" which is 3000, set by Edinburgh. Most importantly, you don't have to run - you can walk or even skate!"

"If we could smash this record, not only would we be helping many children who have a 'Wish' through this charity, we would also put Torquay on the map as the home of the biggest Santa Run ever organised by the Charity. Please spread the word and tell everyone that you know that Sunday 9 December is The Great English Riviera Santa Run and help us create a truly magical community event, raising money for such a worthwhile cause."

Please help by getting involved in The Great English Riviera Santa Run and help us spread a healthy dollop of seasonal cheer and goodwill to all.