A JANUARY 31 deadline has been imposed on participants in the 2009 Herts 10K to send in sponsorship money and ensure they are entered in a prize draw. The event in aid of Grove House is the single biggest fundraiser of the year but the day hospice, which

A JANUARY 31 deadline has been imposed on participants in the 2009 Herts 10K to send in sponsorship money and ensure they are entered in a prize draw.

The event in aid of Grove House is the single biggest fundraiser of the year but the day hospice, which has suffered from a downturn in donations in some areas, is very much in need of all the money promised by participants.

Grove House fundraising director, Paul Parrish, said that more runners than ever before had taken part in the Herts 10K and a significant amount of money had been received in sponsorship and donations from the runners and walkers.

But there was still money out there to be collected and sent in and he urged participants to do so.

They are being asked to send in the money by January 31 to ensure that they are included in the prize draw which has numerous prizes, including all-inclusive holidays from Thomson.

The deadline has been extended to ensure that anyone who was unable to collect sponsorship earlier in the month due to the bad weather still has a chance to gather in the last few remaining donations.

Paul went on: "For the patients and their families there is no price that can be put on the care and support that we provide.

"However, the reality is that without the fantastic support given by the local community in terms of fundraising we wouldn't be able to provide the services that we currently offer."

Last year Grove House, which provides care for people suffering from cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, launched its hospice at home service which gives people the choice of spending their final days in their own home.

This year the hospice is looking to expand the service to cover all parts of the St Albans district - but for that to happen Grove House cannot afford to see its overall income decrease.

Since the Herts 10K first took place in 2006, it has raised over �400,000 for Grove House which requires an annual income of �1.5 million each year.

Anyone interested in taking part in this year's Herts 10K which is being held on Sunday, October 10, can sign up now at www.herts10k.com