ARCHIVED RACE: Newcastle Santa Run @ Exhibition Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, 6th December 2009

Festive family fun! Santa’s across the region are set to dust off their suits in aid of the Evening Chronicle Sunshine Fund and Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice. Hundreds of bearded, red-coated, black-booted Santa’s are due to embrace the holiday spirit by running, walking and jogging the 4km route through Exhibition Park and Newcastle Town Moor in December.

They are set to raise much needed funds for the Evening Chronicle Sunshine Fund and Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice, which provides care for infants battling serious – and often terminal – conditions.

The annual Santa Run, sponsored by Northumbrian Water, will kick off on Sunday December 6th from 2pm, where people of all ages will pull together with the hope to raise over £30,000.

Zoe’s Place events co-ordinator, Rachael Bareham, said: “Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice are delighted to be involved with the Santa Run 2009. It takes in excess of £850,000 each year to provide care for babies at Zoe’s Place and we are appealing to everyone to get involved.” Northumbrian Water will be keeping runners hydrated by providing water at the finish line. Jane Morland, corporate responsibility team leader at Northumbrian Water, said: “We’re pleased to be sponsoring the 2009 Santa Run, which will raise much-needed funds for local disabled children and their families.”

Sunshine Fund manager Jo Harris said: “We want to thank all the people that have given up their time to help and I would also like to thank Northumbrian Water for sponsoring this year’s run.” “This year we are including a family fun run. We are asking all children to come and take part with an adult and wear Christmas fancy dress.”

Andy Saxton, of Real Radio, said: “Real Radio are pleased to be partnering the Sunshine Fund. We were really pleased with the number of entries we received last year, and this year we hope to have even more”