The Pub Run Club is anticipating 150+ dashers to take part in the event.
The Pub Run Club is hosting Kingston’s first ever Santa-themed fun run in support of the Kingston Hospital Charity.
The five kilometre event will be held on Thursday the 12th of December, with registration opening at 5pm in front of The Grove in Surbiton, and the run starting at 7pm.
(Credit: Melissa Connolly)
On the inspiration to host the event, club co-founder Carl Barthram said: “It’s a time of year that brings friends, families, and communities together, plus it’s an event we believe has never been done before to the extent we have organised.”
The Pub Run Club is a free amateur running community that hosts weekly 5km runs around Kingston on Thursday evenings. The club slogan is: ‘Have fun. Get Fit. Be Social’.
“It’s important to us to give people an outlet which is not elite,” Barthram said, adding: “The target audience is beginners who want a bit of a break from the heavy gym life.”
Tickets for the festive run are available on the club’s Eventbrite page for £20 plus a small booking fee.
This covers the cost of a place in the event, including a five-piece Santa suit and a medal awarded at the finish line.
Melissa Connolly, supervisor at The Grove, said of the pub’s involvement: “Since we both have a strong sense of community and we love to bring people together here at The Grove, we are a perfect match.”
The event’s fundraising will go towards the Kingston Hospital Charity, with participants also encouraged to direct donations to The Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service, a joint venture between Macmillan and Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Carl said the charities were local to the community, and a number of runners also work for Kingston Hospital.
In addition to the booking cost, the club asked participants to make a one-off donation of £50 to their Givestar page, or raise this through sponsorship.
The group will have lights and their portable backpack speaker system on hand during the run to keep spirits high, with refreshments and hot drinks at The Grove at the finish.
Social Media Editor & Reporter at The Kingston Courier
