News

A popular pub in the Mendips has raised over £3k for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).

For many years The Queen Victoria Inn in Priddy has put on the most incredible Christmas light display which has raised thousands of pounds for CHSW’s local hospice, Charlton Farm. This year, due to restrictions on social gatherings, staff at the Queen Vic felt it wouldn’t be appropriate to decorate the pub so, to show their support, they decided to organise a Santa run.

On the morning of December 19, participants were asked to dress up in their best festive outfits and set off on either a 3.5-mile, 5-mile or 10-mile run/walk around the Mendips, picking up presents at each check point along the route. 

Forty people took part in the event and raised a total of £3,035.50. 

Landlord, Mark Walton, said: “We support Children’s Hospice South West every year and the money raised from our outside Christmas decorations is usually a substantial amount; sadly, due to the Covid restrictions we decided it wouldn’t be safe to encourage large amounts of people to gather at the pub, but still wanted to help in some way. Myself and my son Josh thought it would be fun to arrange a Santa run across the Mendips.”

We enjoyed the event and were overwhelmed by the generosity of our customers and friends

Participants were rewarded with mulled wine and a hot stew when they got back to the Queen Vic. Mark and Josh also held a raffle to win a hamper of Christmas goodies donated by Tesco Shepton Mallet.  

“We enjoyed the event and were overwhelmed by the generosity of our customers and friends; we look forward to doing it again next year,” added Mark.

Amanda Leonard, CHSW Area Fundraiser, said: “We are so grateful to Mark and Josh for thinking of an alternative way to raise vital funds for the families we support. It was such a success thanks to the enthusiastic participants and generous community and we’re looking forward to supporting the event again this Christmas.”