Back by popular demand, The Run Eat Sleep Charity Christmas Fun Run returns on Sunday 8 December in aid of Key to Life Foodbank!
Dust off your Santa hat, pull on your trainers and enjoy sledge loads of festive fun, on the run or as a spectator, all while supporting fellow South Tyneside residents struggling to even afford the basics they need to live.
The annual event, one of the top attractions of South Tyneside’s Christmas event programme, takes place on The Dragon (Bents Park Recreation Ground) at South Shields seafront at 9am, with participants encouraged to arrive from 8.30am to register.
There is a marked 1km route for children and families, along with beginners, plus the usual 5km route for regular runners.
Participants can choose to run, jog, walk, or push a buggy, but must arrive at the park dressed to impress in Christmas-themed gear, such as a pair of reindeer antlers or Christmas jumper. Furry friends on a short lead are welcome too!
Those wishing to participate are asked to bring along either a food or toiletry item on the day as their ‘entry fee’ which will be donated to Key to Life.
Most urgently needed items at the foodbank include cereal; long-life milk; tinned custard/rice pudding; tinned fruit and vegetables; tinned meat and fish; tinned soup and spaghetti; instant type snack meals; pasta/curry sauces; bottles of juice; Christmas fare/festive packaged treats and confectionary; toothpaste; toilet rolls; shower gel; baby items; washing powder and cleaning products.
Foodbank donations should be dropped off to the Run Eat Sleep team on the morning of the run at their registration tables on The Dragon – car parking available along Bents Park Road.
Alternatively, runners can make a cash donation on the day or donate directly to the charity online, by cheque, by BACS or by text – for full details of ways to support the charity this Christmas see website.
Luke Adams, Run Eat Sleep-South Shields founder, said: “Join us for a morning of festive fun with friends and family down at the seafront. It’s a bracing way to kick off the holiday season and a terrific opportunity to support a fantastic local charity.”
Jo Benham Brown, Business Development and Communities Manager at Key said: “The RES Christmas Fun Run is brilliant fun. Seeing so many people dressed up in festive garb and braving the cold is always a wonderful spectacle. We’re so grateful to all the runners and spectators whose support is so important to us at this critical time of the year.”
For any Christmas Run related enquiries please email luke@runeatsleep.co.uk
(Photo credit: Michael Briggs)