Santa Clauses are coming to Cardiff to save more lives

Hundreds of runners help the charity group in protecting people from heart diseases around Wales.

Cardiovascular disease is a major public health problem in Wales, accounting for more than 27% of all deaths, an average of 25 deaths each day.

People who took part in the 5km fun run in Cardiff Bay dressed up as Santa Claus, elves, Christmas tree and even snowman, aiming to raise fund for the Welsh Hearts charity group.

Santa Clauses and elves are ready to go.
People are running around Cardiff Bay

Sharon Owen, the charity director said: “Anyone does a kind of sports should definitely get a hearts screening because they put more pressure on their hearts. Lots of people will think their hearts are health, but you can’t tell with the hearts disease.”

Sharon said this is the seventh Santa and Elf Dash held by Welsh Hearts.
The volunteers are helping during the events.

Welsh Hearts is a charity which aims to tackle the death from heart diseases by providing public defibrillators in communities and delivering free CPR training throughout Wales.

If an effective CPR is performed and a defibrillator is used in time, the survival rate of the sudden cardiac arrest victims is likely to increase from 6% to 74%.

By increasing the training of using defibrillator and CPR, more lives could be saved in an emergency situation.

The running begins.

Sharon said to the participants: “We go to the communities and schools and businesses everyday. We teach CPR and put different defibrillators throughout Wales and the heart screening program is getting very popular.”

“We are a very small charity. We do need helpers with our works. Thank you so much for you to come”

Melanie (on the left) and her friend just finished the run, tired but happy.

The runners had a great fun during the event.

Melanie, who dressed in a red and green elf costume: “I take part in the activity every year, it’s a break of starting new for Christmas.”

Rebecca reached the finish line in less than 25 minutes.

Rebeca, wearing a golden star on her hair: “This is the first time to attend this activity, it’s good for the charity and have good fun.”