AROUND £1,000 has been raised for people in Ayrshire with Parkinson’s thanks to a local jogging club’s annual festive fun run.
Almost 150 people took part in the Monkton Milers’ Santa Dash in Troon on Sunday morning.
Plunging temperatures at the start of the weekend had eased by the time the runners took to the start line on the seafront for the 5K race around the regular Troon Parkrun circuit – though the cold conditions meant volunteers had to hit the streets with supplies of grit to ensure the route was safe.
James Chalmers was the first male runner across the line in a time of 18 minutes and 52 seconds, three and a half ahead of his nearest challenger Stewart McRoberts, while Robyn Dalgleish was the first female competitor to finish, in 24 minutes and 31 seconds.
But as all those associated with the Santa Dash know, the race is as much about having fun raising cash for charity as it is about completing the course in the fastest possible time – and with almost all the field taking to the course in some kind of festive attire, be it a onesie, a full Santa hat or even simply a pair of reindeer antlers, the spirit of the season was very much in evidence throughout.
A spokesperson for the organisers said: “Thank you to Mel and Sharon for giving out medals and teacakes, and to the marshals, gritters and cheerers; we could not have gone ahead without you.
“There is still some money to come in, and I will do a final tally after any virtual places are taken, but we look like we have raised £1,000 for our local Parkinson group.”
Photos by Charlie Gilmour
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