IT’S time to get set for a fundraising festive event in which everybody is Santa Claus.

Eastrop Park in Basingstoke will be awash with a sea of red and white on Sunday, December 6 as scores of runners take part in the second Santa Jog fundraiser.

Organisers hope more than 500 people will don free Santa suits to raise money for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and give an extra big Christmas gift to heart disease research.

Maria Sullivan, from the BHF, said: “This is a great event for all the family, so why not team up with friends, colleagues and family and start the celebrations early?

“The Basingstoke Santa Jog is the perfect distraction on the lead-up to Christmas, not only to get fit and have fun but to get away from the Christmas rush and winter blues.”

Festive joggers above the age of 14 get a free Santa suit in which they can walk, jog or run one to five laps around the park.

Under-14s have been asked to dress themselves in Christmas outfits as there will be a prize for the best costume.

Older runners can pick up their free Santa suits at registration on the morning of the run, or they can receive the suits by post for an extra £2 if they register before the event.

Registration and a performance by the Sing For Fun choir will start at 10am, before the jog gets under way at 11am.

Participants who raise £50 in sponsorship for the event will be entered into a free prize draw to win a Nintendo Wii.

To join in, contact the BHF events team on 0808 1002109 or go to bhf.org.uk/basingstokesantajog.