Natasha Kaplinsky calls for entrants in 2018 Lewes Santa Run

The family-friendly 2km event put on by The Bevern Trust will take place on December 1, starting and finishing at Harvey’s Brewery Yard.

Kaplinsky, who was born in Brighton and grew up in Barcombe, is patron of the charity, which cares for those with profound disabilities across Sussex.

She was at its care home Bevern View, in Barcombe, last Friday (November 9) as part of events to promote the festive fixture.

She said: “This is such an important cause and I would encourage as many people as possible to sign up and support Lewes Santa Run and help raise as much funds as possible for disabled people in Sussex.”

About 100 people donned fancy dress and took part in the inaugural run last year.

It is thought it was the first event of its kind in the town and raised £1,130.

Bevern Trust’s fundraising manager Matthew Cornish said he is hoping to see lots of people return for the fundraiser.

He said: “We want to see a really fun-filled event to get Christmas off to a cracking start in Lewes.”

He added that it will be a ‘spectacular sight to see so many people rushing past in their Santa suits’.

Entry is £20 for adults and £10 for under-16s, which will include a Santa suit and a medal. Under-fives go free with entry to include a Santa hat, not suit. The route is accessible to wheelchairs and push chairs.

Lewes Town Council is supporting the event and accountants Knill James, Harvey’s Brewery and design and communications agency HRS Creative are sponsoring it.

The Bevern Trust says it needs to raise £12,000 a month through donations to provide its specialist care and is hoping to raise £3,000 through the Santa Run.

For more details, visit www.beverntrust.org/santarun