An amazing £6,500 was raised by the Ryde & District Round Table's Isle of Wight Santa Dash, with over £4,000 being donated to Mountbatten Isle of Wight.

The money has been split between Mountbatten and the suicide awareness group, FYFEY.

Nearly 300 Father Christmases gathered on Ryde Esplanade on the first Sunday of December — for the first event of its kind in three years.

Spirits were high, despite the rain, as adults, children and four-legged participants ran or walked either 5km or 2km along the seafront.

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Here's how to take part in the Isle of Wight Santa Dash in 2025

The Ryde & District Round Table's Santa Dash 2025 will be on Sunday 7 December, in support of Mountbatten Isle of Wight and other local causes

A limited number of promotional early bird tickets are available before 31 March, which include automatic entry into a competition to win a Christmas hamper worth £250.

CLICK HERE to get more information via the Ryde & District Round Table's official site

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All Santa Dash photos courtesy of Ryde & District Round Table

Outside the recently refurbished Ryde Superbowl there was festive music, a charity raffle, mulled wine, refreshments and the change take photos with Father Christmas on his sleigh.

Ryde & District Round Table has thanked all those those who took part as well as event sponsors, Go Internet and St James Clinic, and supporters, Ryde Superbowl, Vectis Medical Services, isleofwight.com, Snap Fitness IW and the Isle of Wight Round Table.

Ryde & District Round Table  event organiser, Mike Palin, said: “Not only does the Santa Dash bring festive cheer to all those involved but, thanks to the participants, sponsors, supporters and our fantastic volunteers, we are able to contribute much-needed funds to the wonderful Mountbatten Isle of Wight and FYFEY."

Combined with BigGive match-funding, £4,500 was donated to Mountbatten Isle of Wight.

Mountbatten CEO, Nigel Hartley, MBE, said: “It was great to see the return of the brilliant Santa Dash this year, in support of Mountbatten Isle of Wight. I am delighted that it is going to, once again, become a regular feature among the Island’s Christmas
festivities.

"We are so grateful to Ryde & District Round Table for announcing the event will always be in aid of our vital
work.

"Mountbatten Isle of Wight supports Islanders 24/7, in their homes and in our inpatient unit in Newport. It costs £10.5 million per year to run our hospice charity. The third of our funding that comes from the NHS does not go as far as it used to. While our costs have risen, the NHS’s money has not increased in line with inflation.

"It means events like the Santa Dash play an increasingly important role in helping ensure our expert staff can continue to support the patients who need us, by boosting the two-thirds of our funding that comes from donations and the Island’s community.

"A huge thank you to you too, for taking part in this year’s Santa Dash. Your support is much appreciated!”

It is not too late to donate to this year’s Santa Dash appeal. CLICK HERE to visit Ryde & District Round Table’s Facebook page.

If you run a business and would like to sponsor or support the 2025 Santa Dash, email [email protected].