Liverpool Santa Dash Shop Now Open with 3,000 Santas Have Already Signed Up For Milestone Event

THE BTR Liverpool Santa Dash pop up shop has opened in St Johns Shopping Centre; ready for thousands of Santas ahead of the big day.

This year's event is on:- Sunday, 3 December 2023, and marks a significant milestone as the 20th staging of the festive spectacular.

The Lord Mayor Of Liverpool, Councillor Mary Rasmussen, officially opened the pop up shop and met the team behind the festive spectacular.

More than 3,000 dashing Santas have already signed up; and organisers are keen to bypass last year's figure of 5,500 to mark the special celebratory year.

The event was created by BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell, and is highly regarded as the City's kick-start to Christmas.

The very 1st Liverpool Santa Dash took place in 2004, and it is now thought to be the UK's biggest festive 5K fun run.

Over 2 decades, the event has continued to evolve. In 2007, a 1K Mini Dash for youngsters aged 12 and under was added to the day, while blue Santa suits were introduced in 2010 due to public demand. The 5K route was changed in 2018 to include Royal Albert Dock Liverpool after the Churchill Flyover in Liverpool City Centre was demolished.

During her visit, the Lord Mayor Of Liverpool met BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell; Adam Dixon and Oli the mascot from official event charity partner Alder Hey Children's Charity; and Neil Ashcroft, Director of St Johns Shopping Centre, an event partner.

The Lord Mayor enjoyed chatting to the team; and was keen to try on this year's commemorative Santa Dash medals alongside her very own Mayoral chains.

The BTR Liverpool Santa Dash pop up shop is now open 7 days a week through to:- Saturday, 2 December 2023. Blue Santa suits are already limited.

Online Santa Dash entries are open NOW.

The shop is located on the lower level of St Johns Shopping Centre near the Matalan bridge and Post Office. Opening times are Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 5pm, and Sunday, between:- 11am and 4pm.

Santas can sign-up in the shop and take everything away with them:- run number, Santa suit, medal wristband, and goody bag.

Those who register online also need to collect their Santa suits from the shop. They will receive their run number in the post with a Santa suit collection card; they must bring the card into the shop to exchange for the suit and collect the medal wristband which must be worn on event day.

As part of the 20th event celebrations, BTR Liverpool have released a range of fun slogan red and blue Santa Dash T-shirts and hoodies.

The T-shirts are made from technical material as favoured by runners. Liverpool based merchandise experts Wild Thang produced the range. They are available to purchase in-store and online at the BTR Liverpool website.

Neil Ashcroft, Director of St Johns Shopping Centre, said:- "It is fantastic to welcome the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash to St Johns Shopping Centre for the 7th consecutive year; and experience all the fun it brings. Our Christmas lights go live this week so the Santas can enjoy the sights as they make their way through the centre to collect their Santa suits. We cannot wait to join in with this year's landmark celebrations."

Alder Hey Children's Charity is the Official Event Charity Partner for the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash 2023. Santas can support the charity by fundraising or making a 1 off donation.

Funds raised by Alder Hey through the event will support its work to transform young lives through state of the art equipment, facilities, and ground-breaking medical research.

People can dash and fundraise for Alder Hey by visiting:- AlderHeyCharity.Org.

Santa Dash participants or supporters can also make a 1 off donation to Alder Hey at:- JustGiving.com.

The BTR Liverpool Santa Dash is on:- Sunday, 3 December 2023, at:- 9.30am.

The 5K route starts from Pier Head Liverpool, passing through the Grade I Listed Royal Albert Dock Liverpool estate, winding its way through the City Centre, before a grandstand finish line featuring stilt walking festive characters and:- 'real' snow outside Liverpool Town Hall.

The 1K Mini Dash is for youngsters aged:- 12 and under. It starts at approximately:- 11am in Castle Street, once all Santas in the main Dash have completed the course. The youngsters follow a similar City Centre route before crossing the finish line outside Liverpool Town Hall.

As the Santa Dash and Mini Dash participants pass Moorfields Train Station on Dale Street, they will be greeted by the sights and sounds of Liverpool drumming band Katumba.

BTR Liverpool Race Director Alan Rothwell added:- "For 20 years, the people of Liverpool and visitors have embraced the fun, warmth, and pure joy of the Liverpool Santa Dash. It really is an event like no other. It just has to be seen 1st hand to be believed. The sea of red, blue, and mini Santas is simply incredible. Join us for this special celebratory year; let's make it one to remember."

Radio City is the Official Event Media Partner for the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash 2023. Leanne and Scott from the Radio City Breakfast Show are already throwing themselves into the fun.

Leanne has confirmed she will be taking part on the day and is now inviting Radio City listeners to join her on the day; register at:- PlanetRadio.Co.UK.

Arriva North West is supporting the event for the 6th time with free bus travel across Merseyside on Santa Dash day.

To claim complimentary bus travel to or from the City Centre, Santas must be wearing their Santa suit and race number on the morning, or their Santa suit and finishers' medal when travelling home. There is no cut off time to travel after the event.

BTR Liverpool is the leading independent organisation for creating, managing, and delivering headline running events across Liverpool City Region. Its extensive portfolio covers various distances across different terrains, all with an ongoing commitment to sustainability.

The BTR event calendar also includes the BTR Tour Of Merseyside, BTR Liverpool � Marathon, and BTR Mersey Tunnel 10K.

The Liverpool Santa Dash entry fee covers all costs to organise and deliver the event including:- road closures, safety measures, Santa suits, medals, goody bags, and entertainment.

Entries are open online at:- BTRLiverpool.Com.

If you are not 100% what it is all about, check out our coverage from 2022... Don't miss this amazing event and it is also FREE to watch!

Liverpool, Knowsley and Sefton Councils launch inspiring short film about fostering

"ANY of us can foster..." that's the message of a powerful new short film produced by Councils including:- Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley. The film entilted:- 'Any of us' is hoping to raise awareness of fostering and highlights that anyone has the potential to make a difference to a child's life.

Cabinet Member for Liverpool City Council's Children's Social Services, Cllr Liz Parsons, said:- "Across the Region and UK there is a real need for more people to come forward to provide homes for our children. It's therefore really important that we work together with other Councils across the UK in funding this film and other similar initiatives to raise awareness. The fostering message is the same wherever you live and so we believe this film will appeal to as wide an audience as possible. Being a local authority foster carer was 1 of the most rewarding roles of my life and 1 I would recommend. So, if you feel you have love to give and you can relate to the nurturing personalities portrayed in this film then, please, get in touch with your local Council's Fostering Service."

There are over 2,500 cared for children across the 3 local authorities and with a national shortage of local carers, authorities have no alternative, but to look further afield, meaning some children are moved away from their school, friends and familiar environments. Experiencing this can be traumatic for a child, or young person.

Cllr Margaret Harvey, Cabinet Member for Children's Services at Knowsley Council, said:- "Fostering directly with your Council means you can support your local community by working with a fostering service that is dedicated to supporting local children and young people who need a nurturing, safe foster home. "

The film follows 3 people:- Ayesha, Neil and Marsha; who in their own way show that they are caring people, the video reveals that being caring is fundamental to being a foster carer, from going to the aid of a pedestrian after an accident, to calming down an aggressive situation. Their stories are all interwoven with that of a young foster child, Chloe, as viewers get an insight into her journey into foster care.

Councillor Mhairi Doyle, Sefton Council's Cabinet Member for Children's Social Care said:- "We all have a role to play in helping our children who have come into care through no fault of their own. It takes a Village to raise a child and communities, businesses and organisations can help in many ways for example, sharing messages across their channels, by thinking about making their workplaces:- 'Fostering Friendly' so its easier to work and foster at the same time or even helping current foster families by offering discounts on days out or activities. Our children benefit when we all work together."

Kim began fostering with Sefton Council 2� years ago says it's the best decision her and her family made. She said:- "This film is a powerful reminder that any of us can make a difference in a child's life. Fostering isn't about being perfect, you just need to be willing to be there for a child. We don't think we 're special, we are just normal people trying to look after children that need our care. For me and my family, fostering is the best thing we 've ever done. I 'd recommend it a hundred percent because the enjoyment of seeing kids grow and become more confident is the best feeling ever."

Isabelle Kirkham, who lives in Liverpool and is Co-Founder at The Care Experienced Movement, which works to give people in care a voice, said:- "If I hadn't had the stability my foster mum gave me when I was growing up, I genuinely would not be where I am today. You don't need to be perfect to foster and you 're not always going to get it right, and that's ok. The impact you have on that child, for however long you have them, will stay with them for the rest of their life."

The short film was shown on:- Thursday, 19 October 2023, to a specially invited audience at:- FACT Cinema, in Liverpool's City Center.

To find out more about fostering in:- Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley, visit:-