CHRISTMAS came early to Huddersfield as fundraisers donned their Santa suits to raise money for charity.
And it may have been miserable weather, but festive cheer was high as people young and old took part in the dash around Huddersfield town centre.
The rainy scene was lifted with flashes of red as families and shoppers gathered to cheer on around 100 runners dressed as Father Christmas and reindeers.
Spurred on by the music of brass band players, participants put their best feet forward to raise hundreds of pounds for their chosen good causes.
The day was organised by the Lions Club of Huddersfield and raised £1,735 for 19 charities.
Gathering at the tinsel starting line, there was a massive cheer as the soggy Santas set off on the one-mile route
Barney Harie and his son George, 11, took part to raise money towards the £6,000 replacement of windows at Longwood Mechanics Hall.
Friends Emily Durie, 19, from Lepton and Leanne Dyson, 20, from Almondbury, were racing to help buy a new home for the Just for Fun after school club based in Lepton.
Emily said: “The club has about 40 children who come every day but we need a new building as the old one has been condemned.
“This is the first time we’ve run in the Santa dash and we think it’s a really good idea.”
Young members of the Holmfirth-based Cafe 100 youth project were stepping up to the challenge to raise money for new equipment.
Bethany Wadsworth, 11, Martin Beardsell, 16, and Florian Kilby, 11, were all dressed in their red suits.
The project’s manager Neil Murton said: “It’s a fantastic idea. It brings the community together and makes them aware of the great things people like these youngsters are doing to raise money for their own projects.
“It’s a good opportunity to show that there are some young people out there doing positive things.”
Five-year-old Thomas Hirst from Waterloo was one of the youngest participants dressed as a little reindeer complete with flashing nose.
His dad Paul said: “It was my daughter’s birthday this week and she had a party so we wanted something for just us lads to do.
“We’re running for Kirkwood Hospice. I work for Armitage’s Garden Centre and the grotto is in support of the charity.
“It’s a great chance for people to come out and do something fun together and we have been really looking forward to it.”
Anne Blackburn and her daughters Lauren and Kathryn Breslin took part on behalf of Kirklees Mencap after participating in the Examiner Charity Challenge in previous years. She said: “We are novices in this event but think it’s a fantastic idea and a great way of getting in the Christmas spirit.
“It’s a brilliant way of getting people together to help their charities.
Five musicians from Marsden Band played festive tunes as they marched around the route. They were raising money to compete in next year’s the Butlins Mineworkers brass band contest.
The Lions organised the event for the first time. It follows previous successful Santa fundraisers in recent years staged by the Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust, which also had runners in this year’s event.
Bob Armitage, from Huddersfield Lions, said: “The weather has been terrible but we had a good turnout of about 100 runners.
“The event is just like the Examiner Charity Challenge with people coming together to raise money for their own charities.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for people to raise money off the back on the Lion’s work.”
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