Calling all Santas! Charity Asks for Budding Santas to Get Their Trainers On!

    KENT, ENGLAND, April 06, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- It may only be April, but budding Santas of all ages and abilities are being invited to start training for a fun run in aid of Helen & Douglas House Hospice in Oxford.

The 2 mile 2013 Santas On The Run Race in Oxford takes place on Sunday 15 December and budding santas can run, jog or walk through the streets of Oxford City in order to raise vital funds for the children's hospice.

Santas On The Run is a series of fun runs which sees national charity Children's Hospices UK and children's hospices throughout the country working together to raise awareness and vital funds. This will be the 7th year that the event has taken place.

The Oxford event is being sponsored for the 4th consecutive year by Foresters, the international financial services organisation, and, says Steve Dilworth, Managing Director, Member Network UK, Foresters, they are hoping for their biggest turn out ever:

"Last year, 1,500 people took part in the event and over GBP57,000 was raised for Helen & Douglas House Hospice. It was an amazing sight watching so many Santas all running for such a very good cause and everyone was truly in the Christmas spirit.

"It is also great to see so many people willing to give up their time for free and help fundraise during these austere times."

Helen House opened in 1982 as the world's first children's hospice and Douglas House opened in 2004 as the world's first hospice specifically for young adults aged 16-35.

To find out more about Helen & Douglas House hospice, please visit: http://www.helenanddouglas.org.uk/ or for more information about Santas On The Run, call 01865 799150 or email [email protected].

About Foresters:
At Foresters we believe in enriching the lives of our members, their families and the communities they live in. We're member-based, family-focused, and community spirited.

Our products benefit both your family and your community. We champion the well-being of families through quality financial products, unique member benefits and inspiring community activities.

We share our financial strength with over one million members across the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. Throughout our 135-year history, our purpose has been to enrich the lives of members, their families and communities. The priorities remain today and will guide our future.

As an example, our work with Cash for Kids in their 2012 Mission Christmas Appeal helped over 250,000 children to have a better Christmas and granted GBP5.3m in cash, gifts and toys to local children.

Forester Life has funds under management of GBP1bn* and is part of Foresters, the international financial services organisation. Internationally, Foresters has over GBP10bn* funds under management and has been assigned an 'A' excellent rating by A.M. Best.**

Safeguarding our members' interests is at the heart of what we do. Being financially strong and responsive, with sound governance and continuing professional service have always helped us to protect our members' benefits.

*As at 31 January 2013

**An 'A' excellent rating is assigned to companies that have a strong ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders and have, on balance, excellent balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile when compared to the standards established by A.M. Best Company. In assigning Foresters rating A.M. Best stated that Foresters outlook rating is 'stable', which means it is unlikely to change in the near future, assuming Foresters financial strength is maintained and operations grow. A.M. Best assigns rating from A to F, A being superior and A and A- being excellent ratings. This rating was assigned on 6 July 2012. Our International Head Office is located at 789 Don Mills Road, Toronto, Canada M3C 1T9.

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