By Emma Xerri
Running every day in a Santa suit may seem like an odd thing to do.
Combine that with the Australian summer heat and the fact that Markus and Shaun aren’t runners and you have the makings of a perfect Christmas fundraiser.
Hoping to raise funds and awareness for Peter Mac and The Smith Family, brothers Markus and Shaun are donning the red suit and taking to the streets of Berwick and Beaconsfield every day leading up to Christmas to spread some holiday cheer.
“It was something my brother and I came up with. I’m a big enjoyer of the festive season, and since having a daughter of his own, my brother’s enjoyment of Christmas has definitely increased, so we just thought we’d try and spread that around a little bit,” Markus said.
“We chose the Santa outfits because of the Christmas season, but the humour in it being so hot and us running in something so uncomfortable adds to the experience and people’s enjoyment of it.”
Already raising almost $1000, the brothers are well on their way to achieving their $2000 goal, but both are making sure to enjoy the experience for what it is, taking the time to appreciate the smiles and honks from passers by and return the favour with a trademarked white glove wave.
“Obviously we were choosing to do this for attention, but the reception has just given us a whole new source of motivation and encouragement,” Markus added.
“The donations have already exceeded our expectations, which has been great and was obviously a huge inspiration behind our idea, but one thing we didn’t really take into account was how great it is to see people waving at us with smiles on their faces. They laugh at us and kids lean out the car window to wave. It’s all been super wholesome.”
And while donations for their chosen charities is the end goal, both Markus and Shaun are optimistic that the positive impacts of their festive initiative can extend beyond that.
“We don’t expect everyone to donate, but if we can get them thinking about these foundations and the issues they focus on, that would be great,” Markus said.
“Some people might already know about Peter Mac’s work in cancer research, but The Smith Family not so much. So many children are displaced and underprivileged, so to raise awareness for the foundation, especially during this time, is something we really hope to achieve.
“It would be nice, depending on how this develops, to host a community run as we get closer to Christmas. We just want to bring people together to enjoy each other’s company. We’re very fortunate that the Berwick and Beaconsfield areas are very community-driven places, so to have the opportunity to make the most of that and continue developing it would be great.
And on whether or not locals can look forward to the two returning in their Santa suits next year, Markus says, “as long as I’m still living in the area, I’m committed”.
For more information and to donate, visit mycause.com.au/p/328850/the-running-santas
