Pictures: Speedo Mick and Mayor Malcolm join drummers and runners from across the world
AROUND 7,500 red, blue and mini Santas pulled on their trainers to take part in the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash 2017 – the UK’s biggest festive 5K fun run.
The Santa Dash was back on Sunday for its 14th consecutive year, with the festive spectacle putting everyone in the Christmas mood. And in typical festive spirit, the city's inns once again provided plenty of room for thirsty runners embracing that "apres-dash" feeling in the dusky hours that followed.
Claire House Children’s Hospice, which has bases in Wirral and West Derby, was this year’s official event charity.
Special Santa guests included the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, who cut a dash in every sense by embellishing his first citizen robes and chains with a red Santa suit and finishers’ medal. He was running to raise funds for the Lord Mayor’s Charity Appeal, whose good causes this year are The ADHD Foundation, The Owen McVeigh Foundation, The Choir with No Name, and All Together NOW!
Everton fans’ favourite, fundraiser Speedo Mick, braved the December weather in his usual speedo attire to take part and collect a blue Santa Dash medal.
Fourteen Santas have taken part in every Liverpool Santa Dash since it started and they were back to run and collect the 14th medal in their Santa Dash collection.
Four generations of the Kearon family, who live in Wirral and Ireland, took part for the first time as a family.
The event also attracted a number of Santas from overseas, who had travelled from Australia, France, Gibraltar, Italy, Spain and the US to take part in this year’s event.
The Santa Dash, run in association with Radio City and Arriva Bus, was also supported by SP Energy Networks and St Johns Shopping Centre Liverpool.
