Kidderminster postman to take on 10k Santa Fun Run every day for KEMP By Emily Collis @emilyjcollis

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https://www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/resources/images/12016796?type=responsive-gallery-fullscreenA DAREDEVIL postman from Kidderminster has pledged to complete KEMP Hospice's 10k Santa Fun Run - not once but 25 times - throughout the month of December.

Shaun Marshall will attempt to run 10 kilometres every single day leading up to Christmas - all while dressed as Santa - in an effort to raise money for his favourite charity.

The unrelenting postie wowed readers back in July after he ran 44.25 miles up and down the infamously-steep Sion Hill in Kidderminster, raising thousands of pounds in the process for KEMP.

Shaun will be joined by friend and fellow KEMP supporter Ruth Mayall on day six of his Christmas challenge and is hoping to raise £5,000 to help KEMP recover some of the money it lost due to cancelled fundraising activities during the pandemic.

He said: "I am so honoured to be supporting Ruth with her challenge. Everyone has their mountains and the feeling of exhalation you get when you have done it is amazing. I look forward to sharing this with her!

"Charity begins at home and so supporting KEMP again was the obvious choice. KEMP is our area’s charity, and we would be gutted if it went away.”

Ruth has supported KEMP's annual Santa Fun Run for several years as a back-walker, and had some inspiring words for people who may not have considered running before.

She said: "I signed up for Couch to 10k at the start of lockdown and wanted to keep it going. I knew that if I pledged to help a charity, I would continue.

"It had to be KEMP, being a fab local cause and so close to my heart.

"Before I started training, I couldn’t run - not even for a minute, and now I run three times a week, building up each time, and completed my first 10k this Sunday!”

The annual winter fundraiser has attracted hundreds of runners for over a decade and usually takes place on the first Sunday in December at Brinton Park.

However this year, due to social distancing rules, the Santa Fun Run will be a virtual event, with participants encouraged to take part in their own time throughout December.

The event, which is sponsored by Blisstech Solutions and Wyre Business Consultants, will see Father Christmases running, walking or cycling their own fundraisers in a location of their choice.

Everyone who signs up will still get a much-coveted Santa suit too, and fundraisers who smash the £50 target will receive a special limited-edition KEMP Virtual Santa Fun Run t-shirt.

Fundraiser and event organiser Coralie Hudson explained why this year's event is more important than ever.

She said: “With our shops needing to close, it has been another huge hit for our income and we anticipate a deficit of at least £40,000 this month.

"Signing up to take part in our Virtual Santa Fun Run will make a big difference in ensuring that we can continue to provide that vital care and support to people in our community who our help the most.

“We hope that Shaun and Ruth’s amazing pledges will inspire others to sign up to our virtual event.

"Every year Shaun amazes us and it is so wonderful to see Ruth take on her own challenge with his support.”

Shaun has also generously offered to support others who sign up to KEMP’s Virtual Santa Fun Run by completing the 10k course alongside them on one of his December runs.

Anyone wishing to run alongside Shaun should contact KEMP's fundraising team on 01562 756066.

Early bird prices of £12 per adult and £8 per child have been extended until Saturday, November 15 - normally £15 an adult and £10 a child - with special promo code VSFR20.

People can sign-up to take part online at kemphospice.org.uk/virtualsantafunrun or donate towards Shaun's fundraising challenge at justgiving.com/fundraising/shaun-marshall14.