The CancerCare Santa Dash was held on Sunday and we are please to say that we worked with the charity for the third time this year to provide event security and marshaling services. The Santa Dash is organised on an annual basis by CancerCare on the lead up to Christmas and it aims to raise awareness of the charity’s work and funds so they can continue to provide physiological therapies, complementary therapies and support to victims of cancer and their families in north Lancashire and south Cumbria. The Santa Dash sees all participants dressed as Father Christmas run, walk, dance, prance, jog or jingle all the way around a one mile course in Lancaster’s city centre.
The race route is not sealed off to the general public so racers had to navigate around the shoppers out on Sunday afternoon. This makes the event very unique as our staff must marshal the race and attempt to ensure the safety of everyone taking part and the public at key checkpoints, turnings and crossing points.
As part of our support for the charity besides sponsoring the actual event each member of staff who works the event donates their earnings on that day to the charity. This brought the total amount raised on the day to £2,700. Dave Hassall (FGH Marketing Manger) said, “My thanks go out to all of the staff who took the time to work this weekend and the fantastic job they all did. It’s really important for us as a company to put something back into the local communities in which we operate and this is a prime example of how our staff really buy in to this.”
Peter Harrison, who also ran the race with his new born daughter and was the first person across the line pushing a pram, said, “Running the race gave me a chance to experience how the staff contributed to the atmosphere of the event first hand. I was really pleased to see so many racers enjoying themselves and our staff encouraging everyone. The race route itself was kept clear and it was great to see shoppers stopping to cheer the racers on too. I’d also like to echo what Dave said and pass my thanks on to the staff for the difference that their donations will make in improving people’s lives.”
CancerCare was established in 1983 to provide support to cancer patients and those around them in an informal, relaxed manner. They help people as they come to terms with the changes that cancer brings to their lives through providing emotional, social and psychological support. They support people of all ages and they are acknowledged for our work with children and young people affected by Cancer via their dedicated Children and Young Peoples Service. Their support services are all offered free of charge by experienced, qualified staff who are 95% funded by charitable donations. to find out more about cancer Care and the work they do just click here.