Night runners glow with pride after raising £66,000 for The Children’s Hospital

A flurry of snowmen, a bunch of glowing Christmas trees, more elves than Santa’s workshop and even the cast of a nativity scene…

A merry band of 500 runners donned Christmas finery - and a liberal dash of neon - to bring a cheery glow to The Children’s Hospital Charity’s first ever Glow Run, a night-time fun run through Endcliffe Park on December 19.

The 5km run, a key event for the charity’s National Elf Service fundraising campaign this year, attracted entrants of all ages - from toddlers under three to grandparents in their seventies. And it looks set to have raised over £66,000.

Organisers now want the run to be a regular on the charity’s festive calendar. Said Caitlin Hallatt, community fundraiser at TCHC: “Our first Glow Run was a huge success. Everyone got in the festive spirit. Our charity director David Vernon Edwards even dressed as a camel for the dash through the park.

“Entrants have raised over £33,000 with more pledges still coming in. And thanks to three very generous local businessmen who are supporting National Elf Service, their money will be doubled.”

The month-long National Elf Service campaign, which ends on December 31, encourages people to follow the motto: Get Elfy to keep our children healthy. For every £1 donated by the public, Graham Royle of GRI Group will donate up to £50,000, Matt Davison, of Dutton Recruitment, will donor-match up to £25,000 and a third donor, who has chosen to remain anonymous, will donate up to £25,000.

Said David Vernon Edwards: “These amazingly generous pledges mean that the amount raised by the Glow Run now doubles to at least £66,000 and takes us ever closer to the £800,000 target for a SPECT CT scanner.”

During the year £600,000 has been raised for the highly advanced device, which will be used to diagnose children with suspected cancerous tumours, epilepsy, painful injuries or neuro-disabilities.

The National Elf Service campaign has been so successful, there is just £20,000 left to raise before 2018 dawns.

“Please help us with that final push to get to the finishing line,” said David Vernon Edwards. “Our three benefactors are ready and waiting to match whatever the public raise in the last few days of December.”

Donate to the National Elf Service appeal at http://bit.ly/2yQJPLF