Santa Dash starts and finishes in Memorial Park!
The Marple Santa Dash returned again on Sunday 3rd December 2023 with a brand new route!
Terry Harding from Marple and Romiley Lions says:
Many thanks for helping to "save" the Marple Santa Dash!
Without your invaluable and much appreciated help and guidance, I think we could have run into serious trouble with our new route. Firstly, you highlighted the fact that we had not applied for permission to use the park and then Jonathan Headlam very kindly guided me through the application procedure and recommended that approval be given for the event to go ahead.
Teamwork brings success!
The words teamwork, friendship and communication immediately spring to mind. We are greatly indebted to you both.
In addition, you have again provided some wonderful publicity and helped to raise our profile in the community.
Against all the odds on a freezing cold day, the Santa Dash was a great success. 136 people registered and "dashed" round a considerably shortened route, before returning to the Scout Hut for a very welcome warm drink and a mince pie. The Varivocals Choir also braved the elements and treated us to some lovely festive musical entertainment. The ATC were on hand to assist with marshalling the route. As usual, there was a Sara Lee Fitness session to prepare everyone for the Dash and Sarah (Coffee Bean Dream) kindly provided the coffee making facilities. Once again, teamwork, friendship and communication.
A potted history of Marple Santa Dash
The first Marple Santa Dash was in 2009 at the time when Kidney Research U.K. was running a campaign entitled "Find a Cure for Martha", Martha being a little girl called Martha Stringer from Marple. In partnership with Kidney Research U.K.'s Carol Bonham, the Lions organised the first Santa Dash - relying heavily on Carol's ideas and Martha's local appeal as our "poster girl".
Over the years, the event became quite popular but 2017 brought about a few changes, which we think have reinvigorated the Santa Dash. We now work with Kidneys for Life and two very special ladies, Victoria Thompson and her colleague Penny McKnight, who have helped us to develop local interest in the event. Whilst they work at the main hospitals in Manchester and Salford, Kidneys for Life supports the renal units in all our local hospitals and we ask that any Santa Dash sponsorship money is raised to support this wonderful charity.
After costs, all the money raised from the registration fees goes into the Lions Club Charity Account and is used to help us give assistance wherever it is required, locally, nationally or internationally.
Of course we were unable to hold a 2020 Santa Dash but were back with a bang in 2021.
Kindest regards, Terry Harding, Romiley and Marple Lions
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