The Northern Ireland Children's Hospice cares for over 370 babies, children and young people each year at its dedicated in-patient unit - Horizon House and through its Specialist Community Nursing Team. The Charity also supports families, from the point of diagnosis through to the grieving period after bereavement. Whilst it receives a small amount of government funding, the Children's Hospice relies on the generosity of local communities to help it continue to deliver its vital service.

That's why this year, Philip Strange and his team of volunteers have chosen to support the Charity through their annual Santa Run, which has been visiting areas around Ballyclare and Doagh village each Christmas since 2018. The original idea of the Santa Run was to give local children the opportunity to see Santa in their street and to share a little bit of Christmas spirit at a time of the year that can be difficult for many families.

The partnership with Northern Ireland Children's Hospice, will give everyone the chance to enjoy the Santa Run experience and also support the work of a Charity that does so much to help so many local families. This Christmas, to give more time to visit more places, the Santa Run has been extended over 2 nights - Thursday 21 and Friday 22 December. The planned schedule for each night is detailed below, but remember this is a 1950s vintage living gypsy caravan being towed by a 1956 Fordson Major tractor, so please be patient, Santa will definitely get there!

We hope you enjoy the Santa Run as it passes by your home and don't forget that every penny you donate will make a difference to this amazing Charity.  

Philip & the Santa Run Team

THURSDAY 21 DECEMBER

6.03: Village Green, Doagh                                 

6.06: Anderson Park, Doagh                               

6.10: Ballyhamage, Doagh                                  

6.15: Crescentburn entrance                               

6.16: Doagh Main Street                                    

6.17: Brooke Meadow, Doagh                            

6.22: Lynwood Grove, Doagh                                          

6.25: Beech Green, Doagh                                 

6.27: Jubilee Hall, Doagh                                                

6.29: Mill Green, Doagh                                      

6.35: Kilbride Crossroads                                   

6.37: Kilbride Primary School                               

6.39: Moyra Road, Burnside                                  

6.40: Brookfield Heights entrance                        

6.43: Burnside Tavern                                          

6.44: Kelburn Park Bus Stop                                

6.46: Cogry Crossroads                                     

6.47: Cogry Rise                                                   

6.50: Cogry Hill                                                     

7.00: Rashee Road to Jubilee Road                            

7.03: Readers Park Green                                   

7.05: Victoria Road (staying on Victoria Road)     

7.13: Victoria Road turning at the Ballyeaston Rd end)

7.17: Victoria Road return (staying on road)         

7.20: Rathmena Gardens                                     

7.21: Merrion Avenue                                             

7.23: Rathmena Avenue                                       

7.25: Hillmount Drive                                                      

7.27: Rashee Road                                               

7.28: Charles Drive                                               

7.28: Erskine Park from Charles Drive                          

7.30: Rashee Park                                                 

7.32: Rashee Drive                                                

7.32: Rashee Grove                                               

7.34: Erskine Park to Ballyeaston Road entrance    

7.37: Elizabeth Gardens green                               

7.40: Margaret Avenue                                            

7.41: Ballyclare High School

7.45: Ballyclare Square (stopping in the Square for 10 minutes)

8.00: Ballycorr Road                                                

8.05: Riverdale Park/Close                                

8.10: Sixmile Meadows                                           

8.15: Cameron Court                                               

8.25: Ollardale Park/ Ollie's Shop turning right         

8.30: Ollardale Green                                             

8.33: Hawthorn Way                                               

8.35: Avondale Drive                                              

8.40: Ballyclare Main Street

8.45: Grange Drive                                              

8.50: Thornhill                                                      

8.52: Grahamstown car park 

FRIDAY 22 DECEMBER

6.10: Rushfield, Ballyclare

6.18: Ollar Valley Circuit                  

6.20: Hanson's Hall                               

6.30: Mill Road                          

6.31: Mill River Mews entrance                 

6.35: Millview Drive                                 

6.40: Beechview                                        

 6.45: Hillhead Road                                       

6.47: Springhill Meadows                             

6.51: Green Road                                          

6.54: Collinview entrance turn                      

6.56: Ballynure Road                                       

6.58: Sixmile Manor                         

7.05: Millvale 

7.07: Henryville Manor                    

7.09: Henryville Drive                          

7.13: Ballynure Road                                  

7.13: Hollybush Gardens                           

7.15: Ballynure Road                                       

7.18: Avondale Drive                                     

7.20: Grange Valley Drive                      

7.22: Grange Valley Way                        

7.22: Grange Valley Grove                          

7.24: Grange Valley Avenue                  

7.26: Avondale Drive                               

7.30: Main Street Ballyclare (10 minute stop in Ballyclare Square)

7.50: Clare Heights                                         

7.56: Doagh Road                                          

7.57: Huntingdale to Huntingdale Green                   

8.15: Russell Manor                                        

8.22: Willendale                                                 

8.30: Highgrove Drive