Santa Claus is coming to town.  In fact make that over one hundred Santa’s are coming to town because that’s just what happened on Sunday 9th December in Nottingham’s Old Market Square when local fund raisers became Santa for the day to take part in a short walk called the ‘Santa Stroll’  to raise money in aid of Nottinghamshire Hospice.

Nottinghamshire Hospice is a registered charity and regulated by the Care Quality Commission. It cares for people who are registered with a GP within Nottinghamshire City and County that have been diagnosed with any Life Limiting Illness. All Nottinghamshire Hospice Services are delivered and based on individual patient needs; and is a way of caring for people. They aim to add life to days for people that have been told that their illness cannot be cured. They help people to live as actively as possible once they have been diagnosed until the end of their lives, however long that may be. The highest value is put on dignity, choice and respect.

Following Santa’s Sleigh for approximately a mile the walk set off from the Brian Clough statue close to Nottingham’s Old Market square which has currently been transformed into a winter wonderland for the Christmas season including traditional stalls and rides. Walkers passed The Royal Centre, The Victoria Shopping Centre and the Broadmarsh Centre gathering donations before finally meeting back in the Old Market Square

As well as collections on the day, the walkers had gained sponsorship from friends, family and work colleagues to help contribute towards the charities two million pound target whilst raising awareness of the Hospice and the work that they do. Now in its third year, in previous years the event has raised £5000.  Sundays aim was to raise a similar figure to help fund essential items and services for example, a donation of £252 would pay for a hospice Nurse to care for a patient in their own home for a nine hour night shift whilst a donation of £52 would pay for one counselling session with a qualified Counsellor so every penny really does count.

Some Santa’s taking part did so in memory of a loved one who had been help by the Hospice whilst others also used it as a means of getting into the Christmas spirit whilst raising money for a great cause.

For more information or to donate go to www.nottshospice.org

Tanya Raybould