RUNNERS around the town are strapping on their beards and pulling on their red capes to take part in the Hash House Harriers Santa Dash.

For the past eight years the North Wiltshire branch of the club – which is often described as a drinking club with a running problem – host the charity run around Coate Water to raise money for Prospect Hospice and other local charities.

Over the years the event has become so popular that for this year’s event on December 14 registration has been limited to just 350 people.

Roger Sommerville, one of the organisers of this year’s run, said: “We started in 2006 raising money for Prospect Hospice with just 80 Santas running round the town centre.

“One of our members’ parents had to go into Prospect Hospice, and we’d seen Santa Dashes in other cities and thought it was something that we could try out here.

“The event has grown in support and we had to move to Coate Water to accommodate more runners and walkers.

“We now have around 350 entrants each year with all manner of Christmas costumes, including the Shin Splints running club in blue Santa suits in memory of one of their runners who supported Manchester City.

“All of our runners and walkers receive a medal which each year has a different Christmas theme, and these have become treasured by children who hang them on their Christmas tree at home.”

This year money raised from the event will go to Prospect Hospice, Thamesdown Hydrotherapy Pool and Swindon Women’s Aid.

Roger said: “We used to raise money for the Prospect and then when we began to raise a lot we said that the first £1,000 would go to Prospect and then the rest could go to other charities.

“They are still all local charities rather than national ones and our members choose them.

“All the money raised from registration goes to these charities. We would not be able to do this if we did not have the support from local businesses.

“The support of the Sun Inn at Coate has been essential to the staging of this event and our sponsors Milton Road Osteopaths, Busy Bees Children’s Day Nursery and Select Line Kitchen and Flooring Studio have kindly covered our expenses.”

People of all ages can sign up to take part in the dash, with the option to complete a 5km run or a 2.5km walk, both starting at 11am.

Entry costs £7.50 for adults, £4 for children and £20 for a family of four.

Registration must be in advance and there will be no sign ups on the day.

There is still time to sign up for this year’s race and do your bit for Prospect Hospice.

Register online at www.nwh3.

co.uk or pick up a form from a Prospect charity shop.