The fundraiser will run over 230 miles in seven days
starting with the iconic festive fun run
Milestone 20th anniversary BTR Liverpool Santa Dash
is on Sunday 1 December 2024
Event has now sold out at 8,200 dashing Santas
Rugby League and fundraising legend Kevin Sinfield CBE is gearing up to start his latest fundraising challenge – and he’s chosen to join thousands of eager Santas in Liverpool this weekend in real festive style.
Kevin will run more than 230 miles in seven days across seven regions of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
It all starts on Sunday 1 December when Kevin will stand on the start line of the 20th anniversary BTR Liverpool Santa Dash alongside 8,200 festive participants. The event has now sold out.
Kevin will run in memory of his friend Rob Burrow, who passed away from MND (motor neurone disease) in June. This will be his fifth annual challenge, having already raised almost £10million for the MND community.
The challenge has been named ‘Running Home For Christmas’, as the seventh and final day of the run will end in Sinfield’s home area of Saddleworth.
Kevin will be joined by a small support team throughout the challenge, covering over 50 kilometres per day.
Each day will be broken down into 7K blocks – the number 7 is always central to Kevin’s charity challenges in recognition of his friend and former team mate Rob Burrow, who wore the number during his glittering career alongside Sinfield at Leeds Rhinos.
The team will aim to complete each 7K within one hour before the next block must start on the hour, meaning the only rest the team will get between each leg is the time spare after they have completed the block.
The first leg will see Kevin run from Liverpool to Wrexham, which also takes in Seacombe, Port Sunlight, Hooton, Ellesmere Port, and Chester.
The following days will then cover Gloucester to Bristol, Belfast, Glasgow, Beverley to Hull, Northampton to Leicester, and finally Old Trafford to Saddleworth.
Kevin Sinfield’s challenge will be raising money for six MND charities including the Darby Rimmer Foundation, set up by former Liverpool FC defender Stephen Darby after he was diagnosed with the disease in 2018.
In another connection to the city, Kevin has been joined at stages on his last three challenges by Liverpool FC Women’s record-breaking defender Gemma Bonner, who is a big supporter of the Darby Rimmer Foundation as well.
Kevin Sinfield commented:
“I am really looking forward to the start line and being joined by over 8,000 Santas will certainly put us in a festive spirit. This year’s event will be particularly poignant having lost Rob in June, but our commitment to Rob’s memory is to continue to support the MND community.
“We are looking forward to meeting more people than ever from the MND community throughout the week, giving them the opportunity to continue to bang the drum for MND.”
The very first BTR Liverpool Santa Dash took place in 2004. It is now thought to be the UK’s biggest festive 5K fun run – and is highly regarded as the city’s kick-start to Christmas.
It was created by BTR Liverpool Race Director, Alan Rothwell. BTR Liverpool is the leading independent organisation for creating, managing, and delivering headline running events across Liverpool City Region.
The event has now sold out. The pop-up shop at St Johns Shopping Centre will remain open daily until Saturday 30 November for collections or merchandise. Shop times are 9.30am to 5pm.
Claire House Children’s Hospice is this year’s Official Charity Partner. Fundraising Santas have already raised £18,500 for Claire House.
Santa’s can support Claire House by fundraising or making a one-off donation at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/chsantadash2025
In Demand Radio is the Official Media Partner. The event is also being supported by partners St Johns Shopping Centre, Royal Albert Dock Liverpool, and Arriva North West.
The main Santa Dash 5K starts at 9.30am from Pier Head Liverpool. The day also includes a Mini Dash 1K for youngsters, starting in Castle Street at 11am.
All Santas will enjoy the same grandstand finish line at Liverpool Town Hall featuring stilt-walking festive characters and ‘real’ snow.
In Demand Radio presenter Claire Simmo will be broadcasting her Sunday show live from the event on Santa Dash Day.
The Santa Dash is accessible and open to everyone. Santas walk, jog, or run alongside wheelchair participants, families, friends or colleagues – there are even Santas in prams, and four-legged furry Santas.
The BTR Liverpool Santa Dash entry fee covers all costs to organise and deliver the event including road closures, safety measures, Santa suits, medals, goodie bags, and entertainment.
The BTR Liverpool portfolio also includes the BTR Liverpool Half Marathon, BTR Mersey Tunnel 10K, BTR Tour Of Merseyside, Port Sunlight Road Race, BTR Women’s 10K Liverpool, and Run For The 97 5K.
Event details can be found at https://www.btrliverpool.com/santa-dash-event
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