The Hogarth Health Club Santa Run 2024: A Heartfelt Thank You and Event Highlights

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Storm Darragh did not scare off the valiant Santas

Despite Storm Darragh, this year’s Santa Run raised over £2,500 for Shelter and showcased incredible community spirit. Watch the video below! Gym Manager and Event Organiser, Vojin Soskic summarises the event and thanks all involved that made the fundraiser such a success.

We have been holding the Hogarth Santa Run almost annually from 2016. Every one we held, we’d always comment how lucky we’ve been with the weather.

Storm Darragh.

I guess it was inevitable at some point, but checking weather warnings every hour on the hour all week was not on our bingo card. I guess it was the tax we paid for all those dry years.

However, the real purpose served by these conditions was to exemplify why we were there in the first place.

Shelter.

Our mild discomfort on the day pales into complete insignificance to the 160,000 children who will be sleeping homeless tonight in the UK. As we do our Santa Run annually, these figures shockingly keep going up. We look forward to the year when we turn up for another run and these figures are going down let alone disappear completely.

Big thanks to Sulayman and Shelley from Shelter who once again joined us to highlight the huge issues and challenges, whilst adding to the fun of the day!

Currently the total raised is over £2,500 and we hope we can help more in the future.

Meanwhile the looming cloud of Darragh would impact our big day. For the first time we had to alter the classic route. No south of the river for us on the day. However, this did add to the fun of the run as our smiley competitors would cross over in opposing directions between Barnes and Hammersmith. The Santa solidarity was real.

Inevitably the conditions cost us a few people attending, but kudos to those eccentrics who signed up over the weekend, knowing the storm was brewing! We had the now traditional silly warm up on the tennis court before we let the Santa’s loose. Ready.. Set.. Ho! Ho! Ho!

Ultimately, we had so many great performances, from dogs.. to the young.. to the young at heart. Everyone came across the finish line with joy in their faces which overrode the wetness of their feet. Inspiring us and each other is what it’s all about. Massive thank you to our main sponsors Brentford F.C. They have been excellent at home all season and were at home as excellent partners in this event. Horton and Garton continue to be a great part of our events, for which we are thankful. Their prizes were gratefully received by the winners!

Really appreciative of the brilliant Arts Ed choir again, uplifting the mood in the bar with their talent! Thanks to West London Queer Project for their kind support for the run too. Finally, it was lovely to see so many of you take up Asics with their offer of running in their trainers.

Ultimately, we are appreciative for everyone who made this happen and who turned out. Mulled wine never tasted so good at the finish line and no matter how soggy anyone got no one stormed off!

Hope you all have a fantastic Christmas and here’s to 2025!

The Hogarth Team x

December 19, 2024