The Santas with South Ribble Mayor, Clr. Dorothy Gardner and husband Clr. Melvyn Gardner, all rejoicing their efforts following the two mile dash

On Saturday 7th December St. Catherine’s Hospice held a Christmas Festival with a Santa Dash and Rudolph Rumble events at Lostock Hall. It would be an understatement to say that day’s festivities were anything less than a rip-roaring success!

The first event held was the Rudolph Rumble which was for children aged eight and under taking part in a half-mile fun run, dressed up in antlers and red noses. From the very start, the little Rudolphs were full of enthusiasm and they gave it their all to complete the half mile trek. Each one taking part was awarded a medal by the South Ribble Mayor, Clr. Dorothy Gardner.

The little reindeers of the Rudolph Rumble cheer triumphantly at their successful half mile trek

St Catherine’s Hospice exists to help patients and their families enjoy the best possible quality of life in the face of a life-limiting illness.
As a much-loved local charity serving Chorley, Longridge, Preston and South Ribble, they could not survive without the support of the local community who help them raise this money each year, and give their time freely volunteering in many varied roles.

A little reindeer receives her medal from the Mayor

Everyone had a go at the dash, even Santa on wheels

It’s amazing who you might see at the St. Catherine’s Christmas Festival, as Philip Naylor, who now resides in the state of California in America, came back over to Britain to visit his father and other family and decided to take part in the Santa Dash. Phil was originally a local lad who lived in Watering Pool Lane in Lostock Hall but left to seek his fortune in the USA and married an American girl. He told us that he had only been off the plane two hours before running in the Santa Dash. We say good for him and well done!

Philip Naylor from California in the US with Family

The Christmas Festival is aimed at raising as much money as possible from the sponsorship those taking part in the Santa Dash and Rudolph Rumble and other events to support the work of the hospice.
The festival also included among a variety of things to see and do, fairground attractions, food and fancy goods stalls, donkey rides, skating and live entertainment. In fact, there was something for everyone, whatever their age which created an exciting and wonderful day out for all to enjoy.

There is no doubt that the volunteers, supporters and not least the staff at St. Catherine’s worked extremely hard and we take our hats off to them for making the day the immense success that it was.

You can view scenes from many of the events and attractions during the day in the slideshow by Gill Lawson below:

Did you go to the St. Catherine’s Christmas Festival? Let us know what you enjoyed about it the most in the comments section below.