AROUND 100 runners flocked to Torfaen over the weekend to raise funds and awareness for isolated elderly people.

The ‘Santa Run and Elf Dash’ took place on Sunday and saw runners of all ages flock to Pontypool Park to take part in the event raising £1,000 for charity ‘Age Connects Torfaen’.

The charity, which operates from the Widdershins Centre in Griffithstown, has been supporting older people for 26 years, providing professional advice, solutions and support.

The funds raised from the event will help the charity hold 13 festive parties in the lead up to Christmas, tackling social isolation by giving elderly people a chance to socialise and celebrate with new friends.

Emma Wootten, of Torfaen Age Connects, said the Santa run was about “trying to get the community involved in a different, fun way.”

“There was a real community spirit and everybody from runners to the walkers were going around encouraging people (taking part) It was a real ‘feel good’ event,” she said.

Speaking about the charity’s aims, she added: “One in three older people are lonely because they have either lost a loved one or have no family in the area.

“For them to be on their own can be soul destroying. Older people are the people who laid the footsteps for us to do what we do now.”

For more information on the charity, visit: www.ageconnectstorfaen.org.