Nedgroup Investments has stepped into the breach to host a charity Santa Dash in Douglas on Wednesday, December 16.

Usual organisers Isle of Man Bank announced earlier this month that they wouldn’t be hosting the annual event because of coronavirus concerns.

At the time, IoM Bank’s head of local banking Stuart Chivers said the decision to scrap the event was taken because ’sponsoring such a large gathering in the winter months would not be a responsible action during the current pandemic’.

However, Nedgroup managing director Andrew Lodge said: ’If there’s was one time we need a happy community event - it’s this year.

’Since we floated the idea of hosting the event everyone has been so positive and helpful, from the Government and the promenade development team through to St John Ambulance.

’The Santa Dash is always fun and charities are the main beneficiaries which is so important this year as many have lost out with fundraising events being cancelled. Wouldn’t it be a great morale booster for everyone if we could get 250 Santas running through Douglas.’

The event will start on Hill Street and follow the familiar route one-mile route around the promenade finishing on Finch Road.

Bar George will be used as race headquarters for registration and after the run there will be refreshments served.

There will be a small entry fee of £5 per participant and all the entrance money will be donated to charities IoM Children’s Centre and Reach IoM.

Entrance can be made online via our dedicated Facebook Page - Nedgroup Charity Santa Dash which will be launched shortly.

The event will comply with Government Covid 19 rules and could be subject to change if there are changes to the current guidelines.