• Swindon & Wiltshire Community champions
• Thursday November 9 2023
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Financial advisor Dave Southby to don Santa suit to run 10k for MIND

Wiltshire-based financial adviser Dave Southby will be running a 10km race dressed as Santa Claus as part of his 2023 fundraising efforts for MIND.

At the beginning of the year, Dave pledged to raise £1,500 for the charity after local volunteers supported a close friend who was facing some personal challenges around his mental health.

To date, Dave’s fundraising events have involved a 27km walk from Stonehenge to Avebury and he has also donated a percentage of the company’s profits to the charity.

His final challenge takes place on Sunday December 10 at the Westonbirt House Christmas 10km run, around Westonbirt House and Gardens.

“I started running on and off last year and I have just about built myself up to 10k, however I have never done one in a full Santa outfit, beard included,” Dave said.

“I will be running to raise money for MIND Swindon & Gloucestershire as they are our nominated charity for 2023.”

As well as having a target in mind for the year, Dave has a specific fundraising goal for the run.

“Christmas can be a tough time for a lot of people and so I would love to raise £500 for MIND,” he said.

In addition to his fundraising efforts, it has been a momentous year for Dave with the company celebrating its second anniversary.

Over the course of those two years, he has seen his business grow, so much in fact that this year he took on his first employee to both meet current demand and to enable future growth.

In July, Neil Sawyer joined the business initially to help with practice administration but with a view to eventually becoming a paraplanner.

For anyone interested in helping Dave meet his fundraising target to support MIND’s work in the community visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/dave-southby-1698686594662