CARLISLE's Santa Dash is aiming to smash the £50,000 mark with its 2023 event.

The event, which will see runners and walkers travel through Carlisle city centre and past landmarks such as the castle and cathedral, is organised by sports events company Sport in Action and was launched in 2016. 

The Santa Dash aims to raise money for Jigsaw, Cumbria's Children Hospice, and since its launch around £48,000 has been raised for the charity, with the £50,000 line looking to be smashed this year.

This year's event takes place on Sunday, December 3, and will feature the 5km Santa Dash as well as a 2km fun run which both start at Bitts Park.

Ahead of the Santa Dash, Sport in Action's Claire Allen explained more about the event.

She said: "We started it in 2016 and have been going since then minus the Covid year.

"It's nice to do something with the locals and people from afar who want to come and join us and raise money for a charity that most people in Carlisle are aware of.

"Christmas time is the time when you think of others and that is the time when you want to raise some money for the kids."

The 5mn and 2km events at the Santa Dash have been designed to encourage maximum participation, with Claire detailing how she hopes the community will rally behind the dash.

She said: "There are the seasoned runners doing the 5k and they have got the kids coming to watch and support and parents and grandparents and it is quite nice because the way we organise it is that they can do their run and then they can go back and join their family and go and do it again with them but more of a fun run, walk type thing.

"We have got people with buggies, people in wheelchairs, in motor-mobility scooters and just anybody who wants to do it and fancies dressing up in Santa suit, the money they pay to enter goes directly to the charity."

Claire was also keen to thank the event's sponsors who have helped pay for bespoke medals and Santa suits, including Pirelli, Carlisle TRI, Story, Cumberland Council, G.S Lowry Design, and many more.