Fun runs launch their annual Santa appeals

Grace McGrory
BBC News
BBC Dozens of people dressed in red and white Father Christmas outfits waiting to run. Some of them are wearing fake white beards.BBC
The Lincoln Santa Fun Run has proved popular for two decades

We might be in the middle of the hottest period of the year so far, but organisers of a couple of annual Christmas charity races are already encouraging people to start thinking about their Santa suits.

Entries have opened for the Lincoln Santa Fun Run, which will be celebrating its 20th year.

Ray Peters, of the Rotary Club of Lincoln Colonia, said he was hoping for 2,000 people to sign up for this year's event.

Entries have also opened for the Louth Santa Fun for Life, which was organised by Louth Rotary for the first time last year.

A man looking at the camera. He is wearing a Father Christmas outfit – a red and white hat and jacket. He has glasses and a fake white beard. There is grass and trees in the background.
Ray Peters is one of the organisers of the Lincoln fun run

Lincoln event will be on 14 December.

Mr Peters said: "To see a sea of red and white around the historic and beautiful streets of Lincoln is just fantastic, and such fun."

A proportion of each entry will be donated to local charities. Last year, more than £26,000 was raised.

Simon West, one of the organisers of the Louth Santa Fun for Life, said: "It's going to be bigger and better than last year.

"We're limited to 600 places, so don't leave it until the last minute!"

Louth event will be on 7 December. Last year, it raised more than £16,000 for Cancer Research UK.

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