Contest to help get Santa fit for seafront dash

A Scarborough charity is hoping schoolchildren can help inspire Father Christmas into training ahead of this year's annual Santa Dash.

This year, dashers will don their Santa suits and follow either a 5k or 10k route from Scarborough Sea Life Centre and along North Bay.

The event is in aid of St Catherine’s Hospice with the charity setting up a creative writing competition for children in order to raise awareness of the event, on December 11.

Hospice fundraiser Nicky Grunwell said: “We love doing the Santa Dash each year and we hope to get around 500 people entering this year. The event is a real family event in Scarborough so we wanted to involve the children more.

Children from St Martins School prepare their Santa Dash inspired poems with Fran Kitson from Saint Catherines.

“The thought is that Santa has had too many barbecues over the summer and needs to get in shape to fit down the chinmey’s for Christmas. The contest requires a poem of ‘A day in the life of Santa in Training’.”

Entry is £10 and includes your Santa suit. There is a special offer for a family of four at £30. The event is being supported by the Sea Life Centre who are offering refreshments to all participants and £5 entry on the day into the Sealife Centre.

For details and to register, call the fundraising department on (01723) 378406 or go to www.stcatherineshospice-nyorks.org

COMPETITION DETAILS

-There are four categories for youngsters to enter: Early Years, 6-8, 9-11 and 12-16.

-Task: Write a poem of ‘A day in the life of Santa in training’ on one side of A4 paper.

-On the reverse side include your name, address, telephone number and parents’ name.

-Entries need to be posted or delivered before November 30 to Saint Catherine’s Hospice, Throxenby Lane, Scarborough, North Yorkshire. Y012 5RE.

-The Scarborough News and Mike Pilling to judge the poems.

- Winner of each category will win a book prize. Overall winner’s poem to be read out ahead of Santa Dash.