December 12, 2011 10.41 am This story is over 153 months old

Santa Fun Run lit up by 2008 Olympic torch

Santa run: Hundreds of people donning Santa costumes ran for charity on December 11.

The sixth annual Siemens Lincoln Santa Fun Run & Walk, organised by the Rotary Club of Lincoln Colonia, saw hundreds run for charity on Sunday, December 11.

More than 1,300 people were registered to take part and extra participants, who arrived dressed in Santa costumes, were allowed to sign up on the day.

Running Imp Managing Director Chris Illsley organised the event and anticipated a lot of fancy dress and a whole range of people taking part.

He said just before the run: “So far we’ve raised about £1,400 which is already up on the total from last year and we hope to raise at least £20,000 this year. We’ll know the full total next year, near the end of February.”

Graham Reeve from Danwood, a local print company with 68 runners in the race, carried the 2008 Beijing Olympic torch.

He said: “I’m doing it to support the City of Lincoln Council and also to help promote the torch coming through Lincoln next year in June and to support the local St Barnabas, since it’s a good local charity.”

Other runners included 62-year-old Graham Clark, who was raising money for the British Heart Foundation.

“I’ve been raising money (for the foundation) for 20 years or so, and I have dilated cardiomyopathy as well. For the run I’m dressing up as Spider Man pretending to be Santa.”

Reese Swallby and his friends were taking part in support of the Alzheimer’s society.

“My girlfriend’s grandfather had it [Alzheimer’s] and someone close to one of my friends had it too. Taking part is a very important thing and it’s a good day out.”