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Slimmers don their Santa suits

04 December 2007

Group steps out to help fundraising drive

This jolly bunch are hoping to shed extra pounds by running in this year’s Santa Run . With just under a week to go until the big race, the weight watchers team who meet weekly at the Ravensdene Hotel, Lobley Hill , Gateshead, have already lost more than 10 stone between them.

The Santas are planning to walk, run and jog the four km course around Newcastle’s Exhibition Park and say they are really looking forward to it.
Course leader for five years, Suzanne Moore said: “When I realised the race was happening again I thought it would be perfect for this group as they love doing things together.

“We did it last year and it’s just a way of exercising to help lose weight, but the members of this class are very keen to do things together. We have done Race for Life before and it is great to be able to support two charities at the same time. “When you lose weight you realise how much fitter you are, and it will be really fun dressing up as well. This particular class has been really good for losing weight and I think that is partly because everyone is so supportive of each other which really helps them.”

Mrs Moore, 31, who lives in Kenton, Newcastle, will be running in the race alongside her husband Steven. She added: “We had such a laugh last year. It is great to be able to do something like that and supporting the charities is definitely an added incentive.”

Santas from across the region and beyond will swap reindeers for running shoes on December 8 to raise as much as they can for the Chronicle’s Sunshine Fund and Century FM’s Macmillan Cancer Support.

Jo Harris, manager of the Sunshine Fund, who is helping to organise the event, said: “It’s going to be a great day out for everyone involved and I know everyone involved in the organisation is really looking forward to it.” Each entrant will receive a Santa costume, including beard, jacket, trousers, belt and hat, which they must wear on the day.

There will be trophies for the first, second and third-placed runners, and everyone who takes part will get a flashing Santa badge.
Last year’s ‘elf and safety elf’ Gary Nash will be returning to help get the crowd warmed up.


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