If Santa’s hat wasn’t already a symbol of giving, it’s about to be. Photo: Rena Judd/The Jetty.
If you happen to cast your eyes to The Jetty at Kingston Foreshore later this month and spot a sea of Santa hats, rest assured – it’s not the eggnog.
The inaugural Santa Run, a Christmas charity spectacle staged by members of the Running for Resilience (R4R) running group, is set to take place on Wednesday, 20 December at 6 pm.
Registration buys participants a Santa hat with an optional upgrade that includes a limited edition Santa Run t-shirt, and all profits will be donated to the capital region cancer relief fund Rise Above.
The 5 km Santa Run route takes participants around the lake, bridge to bridge, with a start and finish at The Jetty. Walkers are welcome, as are those who prefer to cover a shorter distance.
Kids and dogs on leads are also invited, and there will be a chance to get a photo with Santa at the end. Entertainment will come courtesy Brass Knuckle Band before and post-run, and Travla is shouting everyone over 18 years old a post-run beer.
While the ticketing allows for easy fundraising, all are welcome to join in solidarity. The greater the numbers, the bigger the spectacle, the more awareness the group can raise for Rise Above.
R4R is the brainchild of Matt Breen, but he says the Santa Run initiative is 100 per cent the work of the R4R community.
“They decided they wanted to do it, and they threw their weight into getting it running, and I think that’s amazing,” he said.
Matt, whose mother died from ovarian cancer, says the event falls at the centre of everything R4R stands for.
“Cancer is something that touches plenty of people’s lives. Resilience and cancer are synonymous in a sense,” he said.
“R4R is based on the widely accepted premise that exercise and connection are important for resilience and a healthy mental state, but another thing that helps is to volunteer, donate or contribute to the community in some way.
“This event checks all the boxes for the group. It allows them to tap into what they do best to help Rise Above, a community that, in its own right, is doing its bit to water its patch of grass.”
Hundreds of “Santas”, elves, reindeer and Rudolphs are expected to participate, helping to raise vital funds and awareness for Rise Above. Photo: Rena Judd/The Jetty.
Rise Above has been financially assisting cancer patients of all ages in the Canberra and Queanbeyan region for more than 30 years. This includes for medication relating to current treatment for cancer, chemotherapy, food supplements and food and petrol vouchers, electricity accounts, fertility preservation and the UC Cancer Wellness Clinic.
As of 2017, the organisation’s youngest patient is only 10 months old.
Rise Above CEO Wayne Simpson says events like the Santa Run were invaluable to the organisation.
“Our support to cancer patients and their families can invaluably benefit from R4R’s support in establishing the run,” he said.
“This is a great initiative that will bring the community together. We can only see it growing and we hope that cancer patients and their families can join in.”
Running for Resilience has turned into a popular community event, meeting up four times a week and attracting crowds of up to 200 people on its Wednesday runs – so much so that when the group’s meeting spot outside The Dock reached capacity, its owners expanded to accommodate that growing popularity.
“One great thing about R4R is that we’re big enough that through the festive season break, we have confidence that people will be there every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday,” Matt said.
“It will be an outlet for people feeling a bit alone or those who just want to clear their head at the holidays.”
The inaugural Santa Run takes place on Wednesday 20 December from 5 pm at The Jetty for a 6 pm running start. Tickets purchased online and on the day cost $10 and include a Santa Hat, with all proceeds donated to Rise Above Capital Region Cancer Relief.
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