A charity is ho ho hoping you will help it raise money and Christmas cheer this yuletide in the St Francis Hospice Santathon.

Organisers hope to recruit hundreds of Santas to run, walk or jog, the 5km sponsored fun run at Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club, on Sunday December 4.

Money raised will ensure the charity can continue providing its specialist care, free of charge to people with a life-limiting illness living in Havering, Brentwood, Barking & Dagenham, and Redbridge.

Patients like Paul Tucker, from Dagenham, who has cancer and is supported by nurses in the day hospice in Havering-atte-Bower.

Paul said: “The care I’m receiving from St Francis Hospice is wonderful. I can get help or ask questions when I need to and I’m treated with respect and dignity.”

Among the participants at the last year’s Santathon - held in March due to heavy snowfall last December - was Jean Clark, from Romford, who has Motor Neurone Disease and is currently receiving care.

She said: “It was a brilliant event, everyone was smiling and people were hooting their cars or looking out of their windows as they were surprised to see so many people dressed as Santa out for a run. I try and do anything I can to help the hospice.

“St Francis Hospice is just fantastic, you could not ask for better care. The medical staff are helping me and my family through my illness. Everyone is so kind and supportive and I appreciate being able to ask for help when I need it.”

Event organiser Elizabeth Palfreman said: “The hospice aims to add life to days and ensure people affected by cancer, heart disease or other life-limiting illness receive the care they need, when they need it, in their own homes and at the hospice. So please join us at the Santathon and help us beat the �15,000 raised from the last event.”

Places are �10 for adults and �5 for children under 16, and every entrant will receive a Santa suit.

You can enter on line at www.sfh.org.uk email events@sfh.org.uk or call 01708 771427.