Horse around at The London Pantomime Horse Race and raise vital cash for Rosie

An annual fundraising pantomime horse race has put out a call for team entries for this December’s Star Wars themed event.

The London Pantomime Horse Race is a full day of fun, music and special guests, celebrating its 10th anniversary with a Star Wars special theme.

On the day there is a free public outdoor live show, with celebrity appearances, popular live music acts, plus the annual parody panto-horse dance-off competition Strictly Neigh Dancing.

Spectators are also treated to the wacky pre-race street procession, with live marching bands, cosplayer groups, who are on had to escort the panto horse teams through the streets of central Greenwich towards the starting line at Devonport House, King William Walk.

When the race, which is backed by MP for Greenwich and Woolwich Matthew Pennycook, finally gets under way where panto horse teams must race to all six pub pit-stops along the route, to collect points.

Between certain pit-stops, lay surprise obstacles and steeple-jump challenges and the teams with the most points collected in the race, then go onto the final challenge.

The Space-Hopper challenge will see the five best performing teams, battle and bounce it out all the way to the finish line, while overcoming more steeple-jumps and surprise obstacles in their path.

This December, organisers are preparing to take it one step further with two simultaneous events taking place in London and in the US with the launch of its first panto horse race event in Chicago, called The Chicago Pantomime Horse Race.

Star Wars fans are in for a treat with both events planning their own tribute to the classic sci-fi saga, with teams of panto horses, dressed in the style of various Star Wars characters as they race along the streets.

Organisers have launched a public call for teams to sign up for the race early this year and also help get behind a special fundraising campaign called Help Rosie walk.

Rosie is a five-year girl from Greenwich, London who has spastic diplegia – cerebral palsy and needs a life-changing operation in the US that will give her the chance to take her first independent step.

Rosie’s family have set up a Facebook fundraising campaign page called Rosie’s legs, to help raise the £100,000 needed for Rosie’s operation and rehabilitation.

All proceeds raised from the London Pantomime Horse Race’s Help Rosie Walk fundraising campaign will go direct towards Rosie’s operation.

Pennycook has shown his support for the race and is encouraging more people to get involved.

Mr Pennycook said: “Rosie is an amazing young lady, who in five years has already overcome more challenges than most of us will face in our lifetimes.

The SDR surgery that Rosie’s family and friends are fundraising for could transform her life.

“I hope as many people as possible support Rosie with the Help Rosie Walk / Rosie’s legs fundraising campaign so that she gets the chance to fulfil her dream and walk independently.”

Mark Biddiss, who has organised the race since 2009, wants the Greenwich community to get behind the race this year to help the participating race teams raise £50,000 towards Rosie’s operation.

To register a team for the London race, email entries@pantohorserace.org or Visit www.pantohorserace.org for 2019 race day information.