The ANNUAL Hope House Hospice Dark Run is going virtual this Halloween.

Children and adults alike from Wrexham and Flintshire are being encouraged to pull on their florescent and spooky outfits and hit the streets on a 5K route near their homes.

The Dark Run has been an annual event for Hope House Hospice since 2014, held first at Telford Town Park, and then also at Chirk Castle. It has gone online this year because of current coronavirus restrictions on mass gatherings.

One local family who have received help and support from the hospice have played a starring role in both actual events and will also be taking part in the virtual version.

The runners will be sent on their way on the night by the Parry family from Chirk.

Mum Martine and brothers Liam, Caiden and Kyle support the event in memory of little Mia who died aged just four years old after a lifetime of support from Hope House.

“At Hope House it was all about giving Mia a good life and finding a way to do the things we wanted, such as riding a rocking horse,” said Martine.

“But the support for us as a family, including sibling support for Liam, Caiden and Kyle is incredible. They go to the beach and come back having been soaked from head to toe, but you can see they’ve had such fun. I don’t know where we would be without Hope House.”

Fundraiser Lynsey Kilvert said: “The dark runs are some of our most popular events, and during these difficult times where we need income we decided to make sure they will be able to go ahead in the best possible way.

“The event will take place on Halloween, October 31st, which will allow people to get all dressed up and have fun, something which we haven’t been able to have too much of this year.

“Every week, three local families face their biggest fear and their child dies. Hope House Children’s Hospices cannot stop children dying but we can stop families suffering on their own.

“We need to raise in excess of £6m a year to support all the children and families we help from across North Wales, Shropshire and parts of Cheshire. That’s why it’s so important that we are supported by event such as the Dark Run.”

Entrants will be sent a limited edition bespoke Virtual Dark Run 2020 glow in the dark medal and goody bag in advance so they are ready and waiting for you at the end of the run and there will also be a fancy-dress competition on the night too.

It costs £20 for an adult to enter and £5 for a child.

Participants are asked to raise what they can to make a real difference to seriously ill children and families supported by Hope House. You can sign up to the event by visiting hopehouse.org.uk/Event/virtual-dark-run.