Last call for entries to annual Marlow Santa Run celebrating 20 years

The 20th anniversary of the annual Santa’s Fun Run in Marlow is fast approaching.

The festive 5km event usually sees thousands of people dressed in Santa suits and merry outfits jogging, walking and running through Marlow town centre.

All three Rotary Clubs in Marlow are involved in the firmly established charity event in the town’s calendar, with entrants encouraged to sign up soon.

They are guaranteed a Santa suit, a medal and ‘a really great time’.

Last year the event raised over £72,000 for around 50 good causes, and this year the two lead charities are Helen and Douglas Hospice and the British Heart Foundation.

Chair of the Santa's Fun Run Organising Committee John Prout said: “We have been very pleased with the initial response - well ahead of that in previous years.

“We have been particularly encouraged by the number of team entries in support of local charities, and it is clear that the £15,000 "Charity Pool" is a major attraction.

“We want to give away every penny of this sum - and plenty of teams have picked up on the opportunity.

"In 2023 we raised over £72,000 for charity - we really want to do the same or better this year.

“We think this will be exceeded in 2024 - and this is now clearly the biggest single event fundraiser in the area.

“We reckon that over 50 charities will benefit in one way or another - from small local charities to some of the biggest names around."

The last date for entries is Friday, November 29 but if the event reaches its 3,000 capacity, it will close to new entrants.

Marlow Rotary Clubs will distribute 70 per cent of proceeds to smaller charities such as Thames Valley Hospice, Bucks Young Carers, Marlow Age Concern, Bucks Mind, Marlow Opportunity Playgroup, Thames Valley Air Ambulance, Meals for Marlow and Thames Adventure Playground.

The £15,000 ‘charity pool’, introduced in 2021, is sponsored by The Shanly Foundation, Softcat, The Clare Foundation, The Heart of Bucks Foundation and Grundon Waste Management.

Entrants can organise teams to raise money for their favourite or Rotary-selected charities.

If a team raises more than £500 for their chosen charity, they will qualify for a share in the charity pool.

The entry price is £25 per adult and £12.50 for each young person. Children under five go free.

Santa suits can be collected on the event day in Higginson Park from 8am.

The event begins at 9.20am on Sunday, December 1 at Higginson Park, and a warm-up with Naomi Richies and Marlow FM kicks off at 8.50am.

The first runners home are expected at 9.48am, and a prize giving will start at 10.30am.

The core route impacts the following roads – and associated junctions:

• Marlow Bridge, High Street (closed 9.20am to around 11am)
• Spittal Street (closed 9.20am to around 10am)
• Glade Road (closed 9.20am to around 10.30am)
• Station Road, Dedmere Road, Fieldhouse Lane, Westhorpe Road and Wiltshire Road (closed 9.20am to around 10.30am)
• Parkway (open throughout)
• Fieldhouse Lane, Lock Road, Mill Road, Station Road, and back across the High Street (closed 9.20am to around 11am)

The website is open and fully explains how the 2024 event will work. Visit: www.santasfunrun.org