AN OSWESTRY lawyer rallied her colleagues from North Shropshire to take part in their own Santa Run in their lunch break after the cancellation of the town’s 5k.
Michelle Simmonds, of Hatchers Solicitors, convinced nine of her colleagues to do the Santa Run with her and also got her employer to pay for the entry fees.
Unfortunately, Oswestry's colourful annual fundraiser was cancelled due to snow and ice, making it too dangerous for runners to take part.
She said: “It took some convincing to get my colleagues to do the Santa Run – as most of them are from Whitchurch, Telford, and Shrewsbury.
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“Then I had to reschedule a surgery and I actually had to get someone to replace, which I felt really bad for because I was the one trying to get people to join, but then it was cancelled so it worked out.
“So, I proposed to do it over a lunch break, and everyone was really excited.
“It was a really good team building exercise.”
The joggers ran around Shrewsbury’s Quarry and raised over £250 for Lingen Davies.
Michelle added: “I didn’t want to give up and let people down.
“Everyone was still up for it which was amazing.”
Michelle and her team were also joined by Roger Parry & Partners Estate Agents.
“They sent us an email and asked us if we don’t mind them joining us”, she said, “Of course we agreed – the more the merrier.”
Michelle continued: “One of our directors couldn’t believed how much joy this brought to people – the ones involved and the people in the park.
“People were taking photos and shouting ‘Merry Christmas’.”
Now the team is thinking of doing the event again next year, but not necessarily as part of the Shropshire Santa Run, by Adrenaline Sporting Events.
The Oswestry lawyer said that Val Edwards, trustee for Lingen Davies, was also there supporting them.
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