Ho,ho,ho - and a very merry time was had by all who jogged this weekend (with pics)
The red-clad figures were starting out on a five-kilometre Christmas-themed fun run to raise money for a range of hospital charities.
The aptly-titled Jingle Jog involved two circuits of the park, along the A38 and back to the starting line.
The majority of the money raised will be used to refurbish the Butterfly Suite at Royal Derby Hospital.
Labour ward staff want to turn the outdoor area into a peaceful retreat where women whose babies are stillborn, or die soon after birth, can spend time.
About £1,500 has already been raised towards the project by staff on the labour ward and members of the Derby branch of the Stillborn and Neonatal Death Association.
Samantha and James Fernley, of Irvine Close, Sinfin, took part in the run on their first wedding anniversary, just months after their baby girl died in the womb 29 weeks into the pregnancy.
Mrs Fernley said: "We wanted to feel we were doing something positive and the garden will be lovely for people. We hope to have raised at least £1,000."
Boxers Rendall Munroe, 29, the current European super-bantamweight titleholder, and Clifton Mitchell, a former challenger for the British heavyweight title, both ran in the event.
Mr Munroe, from Leicester, who also donated £250, was first across the line in a time of 17 minutes and said: "It's been a great occasion. That was just a warm-up and now I am off to do 12 rounds of sparring.
Mr Mitchell, 44, of Broadway Park Close, Derby, who lost his daughter, McAuley, in January 2007, when she was only two hours old, said he knew what other people went through when they lost children.
He said: "This was a good way to give something back and I want to carry on doing it each year."
But some groups of people were raising money for other hospital causes.
Janson Leung, consultant kidney expert at the Royal Derby Hospital, was leading a team of 20 staff raising money for the renal unit.
He said: "We are raising £20,000 for a second caravan that is equipped with dialysis equipment to allow people with kidney failure to go on holiday."
Gerry Fryer, of Mickleover, was leading a team of people running to raise money for BreatheEasy Derby, which helps people with lung conditions.
He said: "We want to get a portable ECG machine for the pulmonary rehabilitation clinic at the London Road Community Hospital, because it doesn't have one."
Clare Nightingale, of the speech and language therapy unit at the Royal Derby Hospital was running with five other people and a dog.
She said: "This was the first time we had done this and we are hoping to raise money towards a £1,500 light writer machine which speaks to people."
Even Colin the dog got in on the act in a Santa outfit and accompanied owner Ann Fleming, husband Mark and son Paul around the circuit.
Organiser Kerry Wood, of Derby Hospitals Charity, said she was delighted with the number of people turning up.
She said: "We had been hoping to raise about £8,000 but with more people than expected it could be much more.
"I was worried when I saw the rain overnight but luckily the sun came out when we needed it."
The downpours did cause a slight change of plan at Darley Park, where 50 people donned their Santa suits and ran in aid of the Heart of Derby Appeal and new cardiac equipment.
Fundraising manager Sophie Jardine said: "We had to cut out the grassy parts of the run and stick to the paths but it turned out really well in the end."
Meanwhile, another 282 people ran just over three miles around Carsington Water to raise money for the Rainbows Children's Hospice.
Organiser Peter Watson, president of the Rotary Club of Wirksworth, said: "We are hoping to have raised more than £3,000."
walkies: Some of those who took part in Derby Hospital's Jingle Jog around Markeaton Park.
Comment on this story