December 2025 saw the biggest Trinity Hospice Santa Dash to date, with fantastic support from the North Fylde Group, South Fylde Group and the Blackpool Group. The Santa Dash is a major annual fundraiser for Brian House Children’s Hospice, which provides vital care and support for children across the Fylde coast.
The route runs along Blackpool promenade from the Sandcastle Waterpark to the Manchester pub and back. Although called a ‘dash’ participants are free to run, jog or walk the course. With numerous side roads joining the promenade, volunteers play a crucial role in marshalling the event and ensuring everyone’s safety. If you would prefer not to take part in the 2026 Danta Dash, please consider signing up as a volunteer marshal instead.
The event is truly a family affair, bringing together people of all ages to enjoy themselves while supporting a very worthy cause. One participant was Steven Pye of Wyre Lodge No 7704, who took part despite living with multiple sclerosis. Senior North Fylde Group officers John Robbie Porter and John Cross also joined the dash. From the Blackpool Group, Robert Marsden and Thomas Kenyon assisted with marshalling nearly 2,200 participants, while North Fylde Group Treasurer Jim Gregson was also on marshalling duties. Jim has been a volunteer and fundraising ambassador for Trinity Hospice and Brian House since 2018.
Following the event, representatives from all of the Fylde Masonic groups met at Trinity Hospice to present a cheque for £2,975, a fantastic amount, for which Trinity Hospice expressed their sincere gratitude. Brian House Children’s Hospice opened in 1996 alongside Trinity Hospice to provide specialist care for local children with life-limiting conditions. An important fact that is not widely understood is that hospices are not part of the NHS. While they work closely with NHS services, they are independently run, which brings both benefits and challenges.
This independence allows Trinity Hospice and Brian House to provide a wide range of services across the Fylde coast. However, government funding is limited. Previously, around 40% of the hospice’s £12.500,000 annual running costs were met by government funding; this has now fallen to just 26%. As a result, these essential services can only continue through fundraising efforts and the dedication of volunteers.
Anyone wishing to volunteer can contact Trinity Hospice by emailing; volunteering@nhs.net Once accepted, please also inform Russ Forsyth via email at: russellforsyth818@gmail.com so that participation can be recorded.