On Sunday 8th December, Oakhaven will be turning Lymington into a sea of Santas! This will be Lymington’s 15th annual Santa Dash, which over 14 years has raised more than £180,000 for the Hospice.

Lovingly known by many locals as the unofficial start of Christmas, the Oakhaven Santa Dash is a fun opportunity to gather together with friends, family and colleagues to run, jog, walk, stroll, or even scoot around the streets of Lymington. Although some might be speeding to win, many choose to 'dash' far more sedately!

Registration is now open! Entry is £15 per adult and £7.50 per child, with a family ticket priced at £40. This year Oakhaven has also introduced a special ‘6 for £60’ ticket, which the charity hopes will be popular with groups of friends, local organisations and businesses. Register today at www.oakhavenhospice.co.uk/santa-dash

Your ticket price includes a Santa suit, available on a first-come, first-served basis. The sooner you register your entry, the more likely you will receive a suit in your size!

Regular ‘Dashers’ are encouraged to wear again any Santa suits they may have saved from previous years - and anyone who would prefer to dress as a different festive character is welcome to do so! Decorated pushchairs and buggies are welcome, as are mobility scooters. If you are bringing your dog, feel free to dress them up - but short leads are a must.

The Oakhaven Santa Dash will start and finish in Lymington High Street, outside the event’s headline sponsor, John D Wood & Co.

Kat Mitchell, Head of Lettings at John D Wood & Co, said; “We are delighted to continue to sponsor the Oakhaven Hospice Santa Dash. It is one of our favourite events and a local cause close to our hearts. For us at John D Wood, the Santa Dash also represents the start of our Christmas Countdown that all the team looks forward to.”

Laura Eastwood, Director of Fundraising at Oakhaven Hospice, said; “We are very much looking forward to our 15th Santa Dash and would like to thank our event sponsors for their support, in particular John D Wood & Co, our headline sponsor for over a decade!

“This year, we hope our Santa Dash will be bigger and better than ever. Oakhaven needs your support more than ever, whether you take part in the fun run, sponsor a Santa Dasher or come along on the day to cheer on the Santas.”

All funds raised by the Santa Dash will help to fund Oakhaven’s day-to-day running costs, which last year amounted to £8 million. With only 11% of funding covered by the NHS, your local hospice relies on kind donations, fundraising, gifts in wills and income from its charity shops and home care provider, Oakhaven Care Ltd, to cover the remaining 89% of costs.

Every penny you donate helps Oakhaven to make every moment matter…

Oakhaven provides palliative and end-of-life care for patients and support for their loved ones, free of charge, at the hospice and in homes throughout our New Forest, Totton and Waterside communities. In addition, thousands of people in our local area receive support and guidance from Oakhaven Wellbeing at the Coates Centre, following the diagnosis of a life-limiting illness, whilst caring for a loved one, and in bereavement.