Our annual Santa Dash brought hundreds together this festive season to help raise money for Halton Haven Hospice and spread a little festive cheer.

On the 14th of December 2025, 475 people put on their Santa hats, braved the cold and wet December weather, and ran our 3km fun run, helping to raise an incredible £17,258!

It felt like a sprinkle of Christmas magic watching everyone boogie to Christmas songs during the warm up, flood the Silver Jubilee Bridge in a sea of red hats, and cross the finish line with smiles and the sound of the silver band playing.

“Santa Dash 2025 was our biggest and best yet, and we are so grateful to everyone who took part, volunteered, sponsored, and supported the event. Seeing hundreds of Santa’s bringing festive cheer across the Silver Jubilee Bridge was truly special, and the amazing amount raised will help us continue providing vital care and support to local people and their families. Thank you to our incredible community for making this event so magical.” – Tina, Fundraising Manager.

All photos from the event will be shared via a Facebook album.

This event wouldn’t have been possible without the support from many within the Halton community, including our kind sponsors and supporters Merseyflow who’s ongoing support has helped Santa Dash year on year. We would also like to thank; Sprakes Transport Services for providing the stage, Pure Gym for the warm-up, John Bostock for hosting, Anthony’s Travel for transporting Santas back to the start area and Halton Borough Council for their continued support with the Silver Jubilee Bridge closure. We’re also incredibly grateful to our amazing team of volunteers on the day, including our Patron Paul O’Neill and Moore Camera Club.

Do you want to take part next year? Put the 13^th of December 2026 in your calendar and keep an eye out for sign up details closer to the time.

On the 7^th of December, hundreds of people from the Halton community braved the wet and very windy weather to attend our annual Light Up A Life event.

With over 500 visitors, the event was a huge success. Not only raising vital funds for the Hospice, but also in bringing people together to remember and celebrate loved ones, getting into the festive spirit.

Light Up a Life couldn’t be possible without the incredible support of the Halton community. On the night we had 12 Christmas stalls, 25 volunteers, beautiful live music from The Good Biscuits, Frodsham Silver Band, and Murdishaw Primary School Choir, as well as support from local musician John Bostock.

 Special guests like Cllr Martha Lloyd Jones, Mayor of Halton, also attended, but it was one of our patients who made the night extra special. Alina, aged 32, a patient at Halton Haven Hospice helped switch on our Christmas Tree lights during the event.

Picture from left to right: Interim CEO Karen Allen, Cllr Martha Lloyd Jones (Mayor of Halton), Alina, Peter (Mayor Consort)

Alina says “They told me about the Light Up A Life event on the 7^th of December, at first I thought they were joking when they said ‘you’re turning on the lights’ and I was thinking why me? Then I noticed they weren’t joking and I said yes. First of all, if not now, when? I wanted to challenge myself, I wanted to try and then I slowly started to prepare my outfit and my makeup. Dorina my sister helped me a lot as I had been struggling with the dresses. I was a little bit anxious and overthinking but in the end, everything went nice and smooth. That evening was special for me because I have always wanted to go to Liverpool Christmas markets, but I am too sick, so instead we have a market here where you can shop. What I like is that all the money made at the event comes in as a donation, so you aren’t spending money for nothing, you are supporting the Hospice which is really important to me.”

At Light Up A Life, Alina was one of our very important guests, sitting right next to the Mayor of Halton. When speaking with her she laughs about how nervous she was about meeting the Mayor. “I didn’t know the Mayor would be there and we would be together pressing the button up on the stage. At first I was like ‘OMG I don’t even know who our mayor is. I need to google what she looks like.’ I was worried I was talking with her saying ‘I’m waiting for the mayor’ and her saying ‘I am the mayor.’

It was an honour for me to sit up on that stage. There was the Interim CEO, then me, then the Mayor, so it was like a royal family. It was an official event where I was involved like a super star. The hospice gave me this opportunity to forget I was a patient.

Dorina, Alinas’ sister, adds “– It was nice to see her dressed so well, smiling, sitting next to important people. It was very nice seeing her on a special stage, with special people and she was very special in that moment pressing the button. I was joking with her beforehand saying ‘don’t turn off all the lights for Runcorn when you press the button’, so I was making some jokes to help make her less anxious.”

It was amazing to see people from our community, of all ages, coming together to enjoy music, festive food and celebrate loved ones. From children getting their face painted to adults trying to win their favourite festive tipple on our bottle tombola, joy (and a little rain) was present in every moment of this year’s Light Up A Life.

Alina finishes by saying “What I like is that you feel that all the people, all guests, and residents who came to Light Up A Life came because they want to support. You feel that for other people this place is very important as well. You’re not just going to the city centre and doing shopping, you feel like this place – even for other people who are not patients-  is unique, that’s what I really experienced. You don’t know these people, but they support you, you feel like you are part of the community. This was a community event.”

Thank you so much to everyone who came along on the night or made a donation this year, you helped to make this year’s Light Up A Life extra special. Together we raised over £20,000 for Halton Haven Hospice. We hope you can all join us again in 2026 and hopefully we can get some dry weather next year!

Photos taken by Moore Camera Club

Halton Haven Hospice isn’t what you think – it’s a place full of life. However we believe it is important that people have open and honest conversations around death, dying, and hospice care to help tackle the taboo around the subject, and support individuals and families having these conversations. In ‘The Little Hospice Podcast’ we speak to a range of people about their experiences to help open up these conversations.

We will be releasing an episode a month. To watch each episode click HERE, search for ‘The Little Hospice Podcast’ on Spotify or on your favourite listening service.

We are really excited to announce that we will be renovating our patient and family lounge here at Halton Haven Hospice this winter.

Below is our current patient and family lounge. We know this space could be so much more welcoming and relaxing for patients and their families, contributing to their overall experience at the Hospice.

Due to the amazing support of Halton Housing, tradesmen and grants this space is being transformed to provide a little sanctuary for patients and their family members from children to adults. Lot’s of work has been going on behind the scenes to make sure the renovation goes smoothly and we have everything we need to create an amazing space:

• Patient care has been our top priority and plans have been put in place to ensure every patient still receives the care they deserve during this time.
• Thank you to everyone who has bought a gift from our Amazon Wish List to help create a safe and playful space for children who are visiting the Hospice.
• Thank you to everyone who is dedicating their time and/or resources for this renovation. If you think you can offer support with skills or materials, please let us know by calling 01928 712 728.

Due to the works happening between 15^th till 29^th December, we do ask that if you are dropping anything off at the Hospice that you come straight to reception, between 9am and 5pm, Mon-Fri. This is to ensure your safety as work is happening and to make sure someone is available to greet you. Our phone lines will be monitored daily. If you need to contact us please call 01928 712 728.

We are so excited for the difference this will make to our patient and family experience going into 2026 and we hope you can join us in our excitement. We will be keeping you updated with the renovations via social media, so keep your eyes peeled. In 2026, we hope to invite you all in to see the space!