Join the RNLI Reindeer Run in Portsmouth this Christmas and help save lives at sea

There’s still time to grab your antlers and take part in the RNLI’s annual Reindeer Run in Hampshire this Christmas and help save lives at sea all throughout the year.

On Sunday 4 December the charity will be holding the annual festive fundraiser at Southsea Common where it’s hoped hundreds of people will don a pair of antlers and join its mascots Rookie the Reindeer and Stormy Stan to raise money for the charity.

This Christmas, while many people will be enjoying time off with their families, RNLI volunteer’s at the charity’s 238 lifeboat stations will be on call, ready to leave their festive celebrations and launch at a moment’s notice if their pagers sound.

But the Reindeer Run is a way in which supporters can help the charity pay for vital equipment and training without missing their Christmas dinner. Plus the sight of hundreds of runners dressed as reindeers is likely to put a smile on everyone’s faces in the build up to the big day.

The event opens at 7.45am and there is a choice of 10k or 5k fund runs and even a 1k Santa Saunter that’s perfect for the little ones to take part in. All those who complete the run will receive a free RNLI Reindeer Run medal. There will be prizes for the first woman and first man to cross the finish line in the 10k and 5k runs. Runners, who must register and buy tickets for the event in advance, are encouraged to raise sponsorship which will go directly to saving lives.

‘The Reindeer Run is a great way of supporting the RNLI,’ said Portsmouth Lifeboat volunteer crew member Kim Dugan. ‘We always have to be ready in case the pagers go at Christmas, but it’s a big boost to know the Reindeer runners have been giving their support at this busy time of year to help ensure we can launch’.

‘It can be hard on our family and friends if we disappear halfway through Christmas dinner, but the sea and the dangers it can bring never takes a holiday, so nor can we,’ Kim explained.

For more information or to sign up for the Portsmouth Reindeer Run click here: https://rnli.org/support-us/raise-money/reindeer-run/events-near-you/2022/december/04/rnli-portsmouth-reindeer-run-2022

For those unable to attend the event there is also the opportunity for anyone, anywhere, to take part by joining the RNLI’s virtual Reindeer Run. For the first time the RNLI is setting Reindeer Runners the challenge of running 24 miles throughout December – that’s one mile for every hour RNLI lifesavers are on call everyday, even on Christmas Day.

For more information and to sign up: https://rnli.org/support-us/raise-money/reindeer-run