Katharine House Hospice Splatter Dash set to raise £50,000

The charity is urging people to sign up to the Splatter Dash, which is returning for a third year.

It has been described as a 'fantastic, fun event', which attracts hundreds of people each year.

This year Katharine House Hospice is aiming to help the Splatter Dash event to reach a grand total of £50,000, which will continue to change lives in the community.

It returns to Stafford Common on Saturday and is a perfect event for small children and families of all ages, groups of friends or competitive colleagues.

The event, which started back in 2014, sees people start in their brightest whites and run, walk, skip, dance and crawl their way around the Splatter Dash route, getting covered in bright colours of powdered paint as they pass through the splatter stations.

Last year the Express & Star noted residents arrived in 'pristine white clothing worthy of Wimbledon' but left resembling 'Pink Panther tributes'.

The route, a 3km cross-country route, takes competitors thorough Stafford Common.

Lisa Carson, events fundraiser for the hospice, described the annual run as 'fantastic' and urged people to sign up as the hospice looks to bring in 'vital funds'.

She said: "This is a fantastic, fun event suitable for all ages and abilities. We are urging people to sign up in advance as prices will increase on the day.

"The hospice does have a genuine need to raise vital funds so that we can continue to provide free care to local people; everyone who takes part in this event will be making a difference."

Registrations are now being taken for the event which costs £10 for under-16s, £15 for over-16s and groups of six or more at £10 per person.

This year's event is again being sponsored by Castle Estates – an estate agent based in Stafford on Marston Road.

Holly Addison, corporate fundraiser for Katharine House, said the sponsorship from Castle Estates meant more money raised from the event could go towards providing the hospice's care.

She said: "I'd like to give special thanks to Castle Estates for sponsoring Splatter Dash for the second-year running.

"Their sponsorship means that even more money raised from the event will go directly to providing free care for local people with life-limiting illnesses."

People can register for Splatter Dash online at www.khhospice.org.uk/events.

Last year, scores of people turned out, and they were hit with a surprise at the start after a 'mass splatter' was dropped in the warm-up – leaving people covered head to toe in an array of colours.

More than 500 people turned up to the event when it was launched in 2014.

Katharine House Hospice provides free care for local people living with a progressive illness and support for their families.

The hospice began as a hospice-at-home service in 1989 and now provides a range of free services at the hospice and in the community.

Each year it costs £2.7 million to provide care, with the money for this this largely coming from the generosity of people and businesses who help to provide 75 per cent of the funds required. The hospice, which is based on Weston Road in Stafford, is currently looking to recruit new volunteers to work in its kitchen.

Bosses say support is needed with tasks including washing dishes, delivering meals and collecting empty plates from patients on the in-patient unit and tidying.

More information on vacancies and the hospice is available at www.khhospice.org.uk