Brindleyplace and Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust are on the hunt for people to take part in the charity’s Santa Stroll event taking place this weekend as part of the Brindleyplace BIG Christmas Party.
Ailsa Raine, Brindleyplace and Philippa Gay, Acorns, in Central Square at Brindleyplace
The 2km stroll will be held on Saturday 8 December alongside the annual 5km Santa Run, which is now in its fifth year and is already at capacity with 390 runners taking part from across the city. Both events will see members of the general public dress up as Santa to complete the race in aid of local life-limited children.
The charity stroll and run will kick off at 11am from Central Square in Brindleyplace, with all participants and supporters invited to the Brindleyplace BIG Christmas Party once the sporting event comes to a close. The free party is open to all members of the general public and will include live music, seasonal food, cider infused treats from Aston Manor Cider, a children’s treasure hunt and street entertainment in the form of a pair of roller-skating baubles!
Ailsa Raine, marketing executive for Brindleyplace, said: “This year we wanted to make the Santa fun run even bigger, so we thought why not hold a Christmas Party for the people of Birmingham to come along and enjoy? Both the party and the Santa Run and Stroll will help to raise money for Acorn’s Children’s Hospice, whose work has a very real and direct impact on the lives of local people so I want to encourage as many people as possible to come along and support these wonderful causes.”
This is the first year that the Santa Stroll event is being held in addition to the Santa Run and the new route will also allow families with pushchairs and people in wheelchairs to take part. Commonwealth athlete and gold medal winner, Louise Hazel, will also be in attendance to help all participants warm up for the charity fun run.
Last year, the Santa Run raised £12,500 for Acorns Children’s Hospice through entry fees and sponsorship and the aim is that this year’s event, along with fundraising at the Brindleyplace BIG Christmas Party, will help to top this amount.
Philippa Gay, major events officer at Acorns, said: “This special event brings laughter, fun and festive cheer to the streets of Birmingham, while raising vital funds to support local life-limited children. It’s not every day you get the chance to be part of a massive Santa parade! It’s going to have a great Christmas crackin’ atmosphere, and we’re calling on everyone to show their support.”
Those people still wishing to sign up for the Santa stroll can do so by visiting www.acorns.org.uk/santa.
The entry fee is just £10 for adults and £5 for under 16s and the price includes a Santa suit. Participants under the age of 16 years must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Under 6’s can join in for free but will not be provided with a suit.
Owned by Hines Global REIT and Moorfield Group (Moorfield), and managed by GVA, Brindleyplace is a mixed use estate located behind Broad Street, next to the NIA, ICC and Symphony Hall. For more information about upcoming events visit www.brindleyplace.com
[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]