Chester Santa Dash

The Chester Santa Dash is back on Sunday 6 December, starting at Chester International School on Queens Park Road in Handbridge. It's a 3.75km charity walk, jog or run that turns the city centre into a sea of red, with everyone aged five and over wearing a Santa suit and every single participant getting a finisher's medal. It's run by The Hospice of the Good Shepherd and it's not a race, so you move at your own pace. The route is designed to be accessible for wheelchair and pushchair users, crossing the Old Dee Bridge from Handbridge into the city.

Proceeds are split between the hospice, a palliative care provider for Cheshire West and Chester and Deeside, and The Countess Charity, which supports more than 80 hospital funds. Last year's Extra Mile Appeal raised £250,000 for equipment like bladder scanners and ECG machines; this year's funds are earmarked for an immersive arts therapy system in the Breast Care Unit. Local businesses MBNA and Urenco sponsor the day, and organisers are hoping to raise £60,000.

It's an early start, running from 10:00am to 12:00pm. Entry is £20 early-bird until the end of October, which gets you the Santa suit and the finisher's medal for ages five and over. Under-fives are £5 for the medal, but no suit. All under-16s have to be accompanied by a paying adult.