The Lincoln Santa Fun Run 2024
Two questions come to mind as I reflect on the fun run last Sunday. Did you see the mass of Father Christmas’s there is Castle Square on Sunday? Wonderful! That wasn’t one of the questions! They were “How old are you?” and – I have now forgotten the other one – too old! Oh yes – it was “Do you believe in Santa?” Whatever you call him!
I have never won much. I took part in the Schools Cross Country Championships in 1977 (yes – I am getting long in the tooth!). Although then living in the Malvern Hills, the race was on Lincoln Common. I do remember coming 317th out of 342. When the challenge was put out in the Acts’ Office that the staff could enter the Santa Run – and then the Lincoln 10k (we are one of their partner charities for 3 years on the trot) – I volunteered to raise funds. I remember the first question above being asked with a look of disbelief.
I did win a competition at school, and was surprised my entry was accepted in those days. Asked to create an advertisement with a christmas theme, my entry titled “Don’t Give Santa a Dirty Weekend” was necessarily a simple design with my artistic talents but the plug for a “Flush Brush” to clean your chimneys won the day.
It was wonderful to still be able to run, with new shoes from The Lincolnshire Runner (a plug for them). I made both laps, with my sons and partners in tow. It was a great family event.

What does it mean to be a Charity Partner, will you partner with us by running or giving? Yes – this is another plug! I realised that I had set off with my purse strapped round my neck, full of change for the car park, and I jingled all the way. Acts Trust’s strap line is “Empowering People to End Poverty”. We enjoy fun challenges, but for many life is a daily uphill effort. We try to help, giving what we can. In the past fundraisers relied on small change and relieved coins from people in the street. A regular donation online (a modern way of giving for us oldies) really helps plan ahead. We would love you to run alongside us, join us in the daily effort to see costs paid, or to sponsor our fun fundraising events. I am very much looking forward to our Charity Ball in April. Do come!
So, do you believe in Santa – or when did that stop for you? What is your Christmas message? Jesus might exist along with the tooth fairy and Father Christmas in many people’s imaginations but God’s love for us is Acts’ motivation for us to love the people of Lincoln and to work hard to end poverty. There are over 2,000 years of history since the first Christmas story was told of Jesus’ birth – he would be old if he still lived in human form. Over 2000 people in Santa form hit the streets of Lincoln on Sunday – a sight to be seen!

There are some words in The Message describing all the pioneers who blazed the way, all the veterans cheering us on telling us to get on with it, strip down and start running—and never quit! To keep our eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in.
Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God. We would love your financial support to be able to keep running well, expanding the work we do to alleviate poverty and enduring the ending of each grant fund.
An AI overview tells us that Santa Claus is a legend, based on the real-life St. Nicholas, a bishop from ancient Greece who lived in the 300s. Because of his kindness, St. Nicholas became associated with gift giving, including secretly giving gold to the needy, offering bread to the hungry – and rescuing three girls from prostitution. We are told that on Christmas Eve, Santa slides down the chimney and leaves gifts. Christmas is a time of great generosity that puts us all in a good mood to face the year ahead, even if we are not Santa or a bishop.

It was truly good news for Acts to be given some money from the Postcode Lottery, when Santa really did seem to stop in one street in Lincoln. Hopefully they cleaned their chimneys! Google also tells me “A sweepstake is a method of gambling in which each person pays a small amount of money and is given the name of a competitor before a race or contest. The person who has the name of the winner receives all the money” It was wonderful for Acts to be thought of without having to ask.
Whatever, or whoever, you put your hope in, whatever your age, your beliefs or you call the man (or woman) in red, I hope that you have a truly wonderful, wonderfilled Christmas.