Fleet-footed fund-raisers donate $45,000
The Hash House Harriers have donated $45,000 to Operation Santa Claus - their largest contribution ever.
A portion of the donations came from 120 runners (some dressed as Santa Claus) who completed trails near South Island School last Sunday. Men paid $120 and women $80 to take part.
The Santa Hash run, as with other hashes, was a variation on the 'hare and hounds' race. Runners, or 'hares', leave trails - some of them false - which are followed by other runners, or 'hounds'.
The run was followed by socialising and drinking, which netted $2,000. The harriers also organised a raffle that raised $8,000.
More than 45 sponsors made other contributions totalling about $35,000.
One donation of $8,000 was made by the David Johnson Memorial Fund, which was set up in memory of a Hash House Harrier organiser who died last year.
Deric Probst-Wallace, organiser of the hash run this year, said it was amazing that they could raise such a large sum in just four weeks.
'We usually have about 25 sponsors. But this time we had 46,' he said. 'In past years, we had three months of preparation and it didn't get going. But time was tight this year, and we were given the motivation to do it quickly. All the sponsors were very generous this year.'
Members of 11 hash clubs found sponsors by visiting bars, restaurants and companies.
