Father Christmasses at Rickmansworth Aquadrome? (From Watford Observer)

Father Christmasses at Rickmansworth Aquadrome?

5:11pm Sunday 6th December 2009

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SANTAS of all different shapes and sizes were spotted dashing around Rickmansworth Aquadrome today.

Some 200 competitors were decked out in festive fashion to take part in the first ever Santa dash to raise money for the Watford Peace Hospice.

Mums, dads, children and babies in prams completed a one-mile course around Berry Lake – dressed up as Father Christmas.

Even dogs, kitted out for the occasion in Santa’s beards or Father Christmas dog frocks, took part to raise funds for the charity, which provides respite and care for the terminally ill.

First over the finish line was Kat McKenna, who had a special reason for participating in today’s event, which was backed by Three Rivers District Council and Café in the Park.

The 24-year-old of Spring Gardens, Garston, lost her grandmother, Catherine Luby, to heart failure, aged 78, in February this year. Kat, who plays football with Watford Ladies, said: “My nan passed away in February at the Peace Hospice. Today is about giving something back. When I went to visit her at the hospice I didn’t realise how much they did. I wanted to say thank you.”

Kat’s sister Natalie, who finished fifth, added: "It was just our way of raising money to say thank you for everything they did to make our nan's last week as comfortable as possible.”

Others joined in the fun to spend some quality time with their families while raising money for a worthy cause. Ricky Cooke ran the course with his wife, Debbie, 13-year-old daughter Emily, son Jamie, 11, and three-year-old pooch Freddie.

Ricky of Ludlow Way, Croxley Green, said: “My dad died in the Peace Hospice from cancer many years ago and that’s why we decided to do this today – it’s a good cause."

Another runner Quentin Webb, 49, of Church Street, Rickmansworth, said: “One of the most important things in life is your family, first and foremost, and then the local community. It’s something which rates really high with me – doing stuff with your community.

“I really hope they do this again next year. I’m sure they will, it looks like it has been a great success.”

After completing a night shift, off-duty Rickmansworth firefighters Steve Mosley, 31, and Tom Horton, 30, joined in the race.

Steve said: “We trialed it this year and we’re hoping to get the rest of the crew involved next year.”

The runners were each given a medal at the finishing line and treated to some festive goodies, including mince pies and mulled wine.

The hospice’s fundraising manager Gill Crowson said: “This is the first time we have done this and we are hoping it will become an annual thing.

“It’s been an amazing day.

“It’s quite surreal when you look around and see 200 Santa Clauses.”

She added: “The hospice has to raise a lot of money, we have to raise £3 million in charitable income. It hasn’t been easy with the current economic climate.

"We thought we would introduce the Santa Dash to help bring that money in.”

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