Santa Fun Run gains international interest
LEICESTER’S Santa Fun Run to raise money for Rainbows hospice went international at the weekend... across Russia!!
Soviet broadcaster NTV showed hundreds of jolly Santas, walking, dancing and running through historic Abbey Park to help put smiles on faces of youngsters with life-limiting conditions – and beamed its TV report into the homes of 150 million Russians.
“It’s wonderful,” said Elizaveta Gerson head of NTV’s UK bureau, who covered the seasonal fundraising event. “We don’t have anything like this in Russia – it is such lovely thing to see people having such fun to support children and families facing difficult times. We like this British idea very much,” she added.
And, throwing on her own Santa suit and beard the Russian correspondent even took part! But how did the event which raises a four-figure sum for Rainbows attract so many Santas at this busy time of year, Gerson wondered.
“It’s easy,” said Rainbows spokesman, Andy Goss. “We have a deal with Santa, whose elves work their magic to send the suits out from Lapland direct to our supporters... who turn up in their hundreds to have fun and back the charity – and help put smiles on faces.”
The five Santa runs which are organised or directly support the Loughborough-based hospice caught the eye of the Russian broadcaster, which said it liked the “slightly eccentric” idea of an army of Santas running in towns and cities across the East Midlands for youngsters facing short lives.