The team behind the 2025 Ashby Santa Fun Run & Walk are delighted to announce that the 2025 event has seen them raise over £10,000 for charity!

The event was hugely successful once again as nearly 700 Santas took part in the annual festive themed 3km fun run and walk on Sunday 7^th December.

Ashby was turned a festive shade once again as a mix of Santas, elves, snowmen, Christmas puddings, dogs and more joined in the annual Christmas event, the 11th one of it's kind.

Organised by Ashby Castle Rotary Club, the Ashby Santa Fun Run and Walk has become a firm fixture of the Christmas calendar in Ashby, sitting at the heart of the Ashby Christmas weekend which sees the Christmas Fair and entertainment on Market Street.

Santas, elves and many more fabulous costumes entered the Santa Fun Run and Walk (Photo: Grace Kennington)

The team behind the event decided to choose two main charities this year for the majority of the proceeds.

Two local children's charities were the lucky recipients, Shepshed based Steps Conductive Education Centre and Leicester based Wishes 4 Kids. Each of these charities were visited by Ashby Castle Rotary Club members and presented with cheques for £3,500 each.

In addition to this, the team also decided to support four additional local charities and have presented cheques for £250 each to Measham Youth Club, Me&Dee, Inspire Youth Collective and Ashby Youth For Christ.

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Remaining proceeds will be used by the Rotary Club over the coming 12 months to support other charitable causes.

Gary Lowe, Charity Manager at Wishes 4 Kids said: 'Wishes 4 Kids would like to thank all of our friends at the Rotary Club of Ashby Castle for their unbelievable donation of £3500.

'Words cannot describe how much this incredible donation means to our Charity but more importantly to the children and their families whose dreams you have helped to come true. We would like to thank you all for your kindness and continued support over many years, enabling us to change the lives of so many very poorly local children.'

Upon receiving the cheque, Janet Russell and Natalie Roberts from Steps said: 'We are incredibly grateful to the Rotary Club for their amazing donation of £3,500. This generous support comes at such an important time for our charity and will make a real difference to the children and families we support every day.

Members of the Santa Run Committee present Janet Russell and Natalie Roberts from Steps with their cheque (Photo: Ashby Rotary)

'Thanks to this funding, we will be able to further develop our outdoor area, creating a safe, accessible, and exciting space where our children can learn, play, and thrive.

'Outdoor learning and play are a vital part of our programmes, helping to build confidence, independence, and wellbeing — and this donation will help us enhance these opportunities for years to come. Thank you, for believing in our work and supporting our children'

Commenting on the choice of charities for the 2025 Ashby Santa Fun Run & Walk, Event Director Kevin Sanders commented: 'The charities were chosen by members of Ashby Castle Rotary Club and the main reasons for choosing them were threefold: 1. this year we wanted to focus on children's charities, 2. our relationship with the charities over several years, and 3. the recognition of the fantastic work they do.

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'We are aware that both charities do vital work with youngsters, but receive no central government funding, relying on donations. We were only too delighted to be able to help them out.'

The Ashby Santa Fun Run & Walk will return for it's 12^th year in 2026 on Sunday 6^th December. For more information see the website at www.ashbysantarun.com or search for Ashby Santa Fun Run & Walk on Facebook.