Charity Rosemere Cancer Foundation is getting cheeky with Santa this year by taking over Preston’s Avenham Park Cheeky Santa Dash.
The 5k two-lap festive family fun run around the grounds was the idea of the late, great Ben Ashworth, who ran 24 marathons raising more than £40,000 for various charities, including Rosemere Cancer Foundation, after being diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2012.
Dad-of-three Ben used humour to try and raise awareness of bowel cancer and his Cheeky Santa Dash, which he ran three times before losing his courageous fight against the disease in the summer of 2017 aged just 38-years-old, was a cornerstone of his campaign.
This year’s dash, which will be the sixth, is being sponsored by Preston based company Eric Wright Group. It will take place on Saturday, 7th December, starting at 10-30 am.
Everyone who takes part will receive a medal and a mince pie plus a drink (hot drink or juice) on finishing. Entry is £10 for anyone aged 16 years and above and £5 for children aged two to 15 years (children must be accompanied by a paying adult). Prams are welcome (free entry) and participants can run, jog or walk. To enter, go to www.rosemere.org.uk
Dan Hill, Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s chief officer and Cheeky Santa Dash veteran, said: “We’re delighted to be taking on this event. Ben did a lot for us so it’s the least we can do to keep the run going.
“We are very grateful to Eric Wright Group for its sponsorship and hope there’ll be a good turn out on the day with as many people as possible in Christmas fancy dress, which really adds to the terrific atmosphere that year on year surrounds the Cheeky Santa Dash.”
Commenting on the event, Jeremy Hartley, managing director of Eric Wright Group, said: “We first began supporting Rosemere Cancer Foundation seven years ago and are delighted to support the charity’s Preston Cheeky Santa Dash as well as its 2019 Clitheroe Santa Dash and Burnley and Kendal Santa Strolls following on from our support of Walk in the Dark earlier this year.
“As a local company, we are well aware of Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s work to support those in treatment at Rosemere Cancer Centre and all of our region’s hospital cancer units and in recognition of this they were also nominated as one of our Charities of the Year in 2018 with a substantial donation.”
Rosemere Cancer Foundation works to bring world class cancer treatments and services to cancer patients from throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria being treated at Rosemere Cancer Centre, the region’s specialist cancer treatment centre at the Royal Preston Hospital, and at another eight local hospital cancer units across the two counties.
The charity funds cutting edge equipment, research, training and other cancer services and therapies that the NHS is unable to afford.
