Virtual Santa Dash raises over £2,300 - and counting

This year’s Santa Dash had to be staged over the course of a week because of social distancing restrictions

They came in all shapes and sizes to share the joy of a kind-hearted community’s first-ever virtual fund-raising Saddleworth Santa Dash.

This year’s event, an integral part of Christmas festivities by Saddleworth Round Table, had to be staged over the course of a week because of social distancing restrictions.

But John Arthurs, the table’s delighted chair, said 500 tickets were sold for the event and there were added  donations for the food bank.

“So far, we’ve raised over £2,300, and there is still more to come in,” he said. 

“This year, entrants undertook their own 2km or 5km Santa Dash during the week and created their own routes. 

“We have been blown away by their enthusiasm.

"We got a marvellous selection of photographs from them, covering a variety of different routes from Pots and Pans to Dovestones and around the villages too. 

“Thank you to everyone who took part.

"It has been great seeing all the Santas running around Saddleworth and even further afield.

"We even had one in Tenerife.

“We managed to do a short video for the light switch-on with the winner of St Chads Christmas card competition switching on the lights on the tree in Uppermill. 

“We hope to return to Uppermill park next year and be back to full numbers.”

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