SANTAS stretched as far as the eye can see for an annual fun run in Oxford City Centre yesterday.

At least 1,250 people converged on Broad Street for Helen & Douglas House hospice’s annual Santas on the Run fundraising event.

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After a Zumba-inspired warm up, participants dressed in red suits sprinted, jogged and walked the 3.5km route through University Parks and back to Broad Street.

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It was the jolly pre-Christmas event’s 12th year and is expected to raise tens of thousands of pounds, with the money spread across the East Oxford hospice’s services.

Chief executive Clare Periton took part for the first time and revealed the event has become a fixture of the festive season.

She said: “It’s one of our flagship fundraisers and for a lot of people it marks the start of Christmas.

“We’re quite well-known within Oxford and this is another way to make sure we’re on people’s radars.”

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More than 1,000 Santas took part

Last year’s Santas on the Run was cancelled at the last minute due to snow, but many participants donated regardless.

This year there were no such issues and hundreds of Santas flocked to the city centre to support families affected by life-limiting illness and disability.

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Among those were the Laurie family from Bicester, who were running in memory of their son Thomas.

The then-three-year-old was referred to the hospice in 2007, suffering from degenerative disease Cockayne Syndrome, which claimed his life in 2014.

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The Laurie family, from Bicester

The family used Helen & Douglas House for respite and end of life care and have helped raise around £25,000 through various fundraising efforts.

Mum Catherine said: “The care we received was amazing - we’re so lucky to have this facility in Oxfordshire.

“It’s a bit isolated when you have a child with complex medical needs.

“You’re trying to lead the same life as everyone else so it’s good to have others around you in the same position.

“Christmas was Thomas’s favourite time of year so this would have been amazing for him.”

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Mark Taylor runs through the streets

The first runners finished in around 10 minutes, with Anxo Pena, from Oxford, crossing the line first.

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All participants received water, a medal and a mince pie at the finish.

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