PHA’s Sacramento Santa Run Promises Another Fun Fundraiser

The Sacramento Santa Run, now in its third year, is holding a 5k Run/Walk and a Merry Mile event on Saturday, Dec. 19, to benefit the California Chapter of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA).

The full-day charity event opens at 7 a.m. with race registration and the run/walk itself, beginning at the State Capital Building and finishing at the Sacramento Downtown Plaza with food, music and snow, starts at 9 a.m. Participants are encouraged to dress in holiday attire — whether as Santa, Mrs. Claus, the Grinch, elves, menorahs, ornaments, or trees — and all will receive a race T-shirt and a Santa suit, plus a goodies bag that includes free ice skate rentals, at the finish line.

In addition to supporting the state’s PHA chapter, the event also intends to raise awareness of the need for a cure for pulmonary hypertension (PH) and better support services for patients. PH is a rare and incapacitating lung disease which causes high blood pressure in the lung arteries and affects the heart’s functioning, possibly leading to right heart failure. Local PH patients will participate in the event as well.

The Pulmonary Hypertension Association relies on donations to fund its programs, including diagnostic efforts, continuing education for medical professionals, and more than 245 support groups across the United States. The PHA’s mission is to discover ways to prevent and cure PH and to provide hope to PH patients, family members and caregivers through support, education, research, advocacy, and awareness.

View the course map here and start measuring your Santa waist for a holiday suit that might fit even better after a 5k stroll. To register for the Sacramento Santa Run, visit this website.