A YEAR ago Sarah Belsom was busy training hard for her first 10K run – this year she has just returned from a particularly special Thom-son holiday in Tenerife. For Sarah, who lives in St Albans, was one of 2,500 runners who took part in last year s Herts

A YEAR ago Sarah Belsom was busy training hard for her first 10K run - this year she has just returned from a particularly special Thom-son holiday in Tenerife.

For Sarah, who lives in St Albans, was one of 2,500 runners who took part in last year's Herts 10K run in aid of Grove House and by simply raising �160 in sponsorship for the hospice, she was entered into a draw to win an all-inclusive holiday.

Sarah said: "I couldn't believe it when they said I had won the holiday, especially when I had simply asked a few friends and family to sponsor me and had only raised �160.

"I was so happy to win the prize that I matched the �160 I raised as a donation to the prize-giving night. Taking part in the Herts 10K was brilliant, the atmosphere and support on the day was amazing."

Winning the holiday and seeing the invaluable work Grove House does at the prize-giving spurred Sarah on to take part in the Midnight Walk in aid of the hospice earlier this year where she and her friends raised a further �450.

Sarah is also taking part in this year's Herts 10K Challenge which sets off from Rothamsted in Harpenden at 10am on Sunday, October 11.

She said: "This year I hope to beat my previous time and raise even more money for the hospice. I'm not expecting to win a holiday again this year; simply knowing my sponsorship money goes to help people in St Albans with cancer is enough of an incentive to ask family and friends to sponsor me."

Grove House needs �1.5 million annually to continue caring for people in the local community suffering from cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Last year the Herts 10K raised �100,000 and this year Grove House is aiming to raise �200,000 from the event.

The Herts 10K is open to people of all abilities from walkers to semi-professional runners aiming to beat their best time. If, like Sarah, you raise over �50 in sponsorship, you will be entered into a prize draw to win an all-inclusive holiday courtesy of sponsors Thomson Holidays.

To book your place visit www.herts10k.com or call 01727 731002.