THE streets of Oxford were packed with Santas yesterday morning as thousands of people donned Father Christmas costumes for Helen & Douglas House’s Santas on the Run.

The eighth year of the race saw 1,700 people tackle the two-mile course with the aim of raising £55,000 for the children and young people’s hospice in Magdalen Road, East Oxford.

Winner Simon Freeman made it back in just over 10 minutes and was closely followed by 16-year-old Sam Johns from Crowmarsh in second place and Michael Price from Abingdon in third.

As well as individual runners there were dozens of teams, including Team Stagecoach – made up of Stagecoach bus employees – Team Steam and Team Benji.

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Team Benji, led by Mike and Fi Illingworth from Witney, were running for the fourth year in memory of their son Ben who passed away in October 2012.

Ben’s twin brother Ollie, 13, who suffers from metabolism disorder Sanfilippo syndrome, joined in the race in his wheelchair and was accompanied by his dog Molly.

Team Benji has raised £40,000 for the charity so far and Mr Illingworth, 40, said they are in no mood to stop yet. He said: “We have used Helen & Douglas House for several years so we have had all different kinds of help and support.

“I love the spirit of it and everyone getting together for Christmas.

“It is something everyone can enjoy, people can come and join in and support the great work this charity does.

“Also it is raising awareness that although it is a big charity it needs all the support it can get.”

Team Steam were led by Mary Mead and husband Robert who travel to Helen & Douglas House from Thame with their four-month-old son Jack, who was born prematurely and suffered brain damage. Mrs Mead, 37, said: “The John Radcliffe referred us to Helen & Douglas House and they gave us the support and help we needed.

“The Santa run is great for families and it shows people what the charity has done for us.

“We wanted to give something back to such a great charity and help a great cause.”

Kay Lyon, from Wootton, near Abingdon, pulled on her Santa costume and beard along with husband Andy, son James, 10, and eight-year-old daughter Ella to support her three-year old daughter Sienna, who receives respite care at the hospice.

Sienna, who suffers from severe epilepsy, was not able to be there to cheer them on but the family-of-four hoped their efforts would support her care over the next year. Mrs Lyon said: “This is the first year we have done it.

“The support Helen & Douglas House has given us has been overwhelming over the years but this is the first time we have been able to attend and support the event.

“We have got a lot of friends who have raised money for us but we don’t know how much yet.

“It is great, everybody is so happy and it is like an alternate universe with all these Santas everywhere.”

Not everyone taking part was racing for family members. Jenny Spencer, from Oxford, was among the Santas who had turned up to support the charity after reading about the event on social media She ran the course with friends Daniel Watkins and Emma and Bjorn Pedersen.

Ms Spencer said: “I found out about it on Facebook and got the rest to come along with me.

“I’m not sure how happy they were about getting up this morning but we’re all happy to be here.

“We have been fundraising and got about £100 .

“We did the course in 12-and-a-half minutes and I have never run in my life before so I think that was good. It was great fun and I had a really good time.”

Helen & Douglas House community fundraiser Janet Carruzzo said: “It has been a brilliant success, it is wonderful to have a lovely cold, crisp, bright winter’s morning.

“It’s wonderful to see so many people here running and raising money for a great charity and having fun at the same time.”

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