KEMP Hospice has followed in the footsteps of the London Marathon by switching this year's Santa Fun Run to a virtual fundraising event.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Wyre Forest charity will be asking its Father Christmases to hold their own run, walk or cycle throughout December to raise much-needed funds for the hospice.

The annual Christmas fundraiser has attracted hundreds of runners for over a decade and usually takes place on the first Sunday in December in Kidderminster's Brinton Park.

Kidderminster Shuttle: KEMP Hospice staff and sponsors preparing for the Virtual Santa Fun RunKEMP Hospice staff and sponsors preparing for the Virtual Santa Fun Run

This year's Virtual Santa Fun Run will see participants take part in the event in their own time, choose their own fitness activity, and complete the challenge in a location of their choice.

Everyone who signs up will still get a Santa suit and fundraisers who smash the £50 fundraising target will receive a special limited edition KEMP Virtual Santa Fun Run t-shirt.

Event organiser Coralie Hudson said: "We are very excited about our Santa Fun Run event being a virtual offering this year and giving supporters more freedom to choose what, when and where to take part - it is so important to us that our amazing fundraisers feel safe and supported right now.

"You might like to take part early in the month to get into the festive spirit, or you may like to don your Santa Suit and go for a dash during the Crimbo limbo between Christmas and New Year!

"We really hope people will embrace our virtual event this year and come together, have some fun and support local hospice care, when otherwise we are so far apart.”

This year's fun run is more important than ever, as KEMP's fundraising has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

Coralie said: "The pandemic has hit our fundraising hard, so taking part in our Virtual Santa Fun Run is a great fun way to help raise much needed funds for our local hospice care and to ensure that we can continue to provide that vital care and support to local people who desperately need our help.”

One such lady is KEMP Hospice patient Margaret Shingles, who benefitted from many of the hospice’s care services throughout the lockdown, including their meal delivery service and more recently, creative therapy.

Kidderminster Shuttle: KEMP Hospice staff and sponsors preparing for the Virtual Santa Fun RunKEMP Hospice staff and sponsors preparing for the Virtual Santa Fun Run

Margaret said: “I was completely isolated through lockdown, so chatting to the KEMP drivers who brought me my lunches, kept me sane. If it wasn’t for KEMP I just don’t know where I would be”.

People can sign up to take part in the Virtual Santa Fun Run and enjoy early bird prices of £12 per adult and £8 per child until Friday, October 30, using special promo code VSFR20.

Entry will be £15 for adults and £10 for children after this date.

All money raised will go towards KEMP Hospice, helping to provide free-of-charge specialist care and support to families and their carers across Wyre Forest who are experiencing life-limiting illness and bereavement.

Register online at kemphospice.org.uk/virtualsantafunrun. This year's event is sponsored by Blisstech Solutions and Wyre Business Consultants.